Broken Bow’s Runza Restaurant saw Todd Reynolds’ car parked in its lot before 5:00 AM Friday morning, October 3. Starting at 6:00 Breakfast Runzas were moving out at a fast and furious pace. In just shy of an hour, nearly the entire stock of over 500 of the rare breakfast treat had been sold and the drive-through was closed at 7:00 AM.
At the same time, KCNI/KBBN celebrated the culmination of its Gourds for Good promotion – setting up in Runza’s parking lot to sell the “magic” gourds Station Manager Dave Birnie has been tending to all summer. Birnie planted a variety pack of the ornamental curcubits this spring, not knowing for sure how they might come to have such a positive impact on the community.
The number and assortment of gourds was boosted with a donation of 50 additional decorative squash and “Jack Be Little” mini pumpkins from Charlie Schmidt.
Gourds for Good were available through the afternoon for a free-will donation.
100% of the proceeds of both the Breakfast Runzas and the Gourds for Good will benefit the North Park Inclusive Playground Project, helping the Inclusive Playground come closer to realization.
The Playground Project seeks to create a space where kids with all abilities can play together, building understanding and community starting from childhood.
Joyce Richardson, Franchisee of the Broken Bow Runza location, told KCNI/KBBN that while they had originally planned to sell only 500 sandwiches, with a large pre-order from Broken Bow Public Schools, the restaurant upped their production by another 100 Breakfast Runzas to make sure as many of the general public were able to take advantage of the uncommon promotion as possible.
Richardson was also sure to praise the volunteers from the Broken Bow Rotary Club who turned out to make the event such a success. Rotarians were in the parking lot directing traffic, and Broken Bow Rotary President Colleen Gates was in the Runza kitchen at 5:30 AM helping put the finishing touches on breakfast sandwiches preparing to go out the drive-through window.
Miraculously, another 70 Breakfast Runzas were found and prepared for sale at 9:00 AM. Loyal listeners of KCNI/KBBN were alerted in a breaking announcement over the air and cars were once again in the drive-through line by 8:30. By 9:30, the Runza Restaurant sign had once again been changed to “Sold Out”, with Dave and Annette Downey the last through the line.
With 600 Breakfast Runzas priced at $5.00 each, a minimum of $3,000 was raised in the promotion. However, breakfast sandwich aficionados didn’t let price tags hinder their generosity. Reports had Breakfast Runzas being purchased for $100 for a bag of 4 and even $40 for a single bread-wrapped delicacy.
By the end of the frantic morning of sales, Runza Restaurant employees were exhausted, but proud of their efforts. KCNI/KBBN plans to continue its Gourds for Good promotion, auctioning off any remaining bird houses, loofas and other bumpy decorations in near future.
