Creative Control International Inc.

My Open Letter to the Pizza for Pesos Guy

February 15, 2007 at 9:30 am Leave a comment

Orginally posted on February 15th, 2007

Here is an interesting story about the owner of Pizza Patrón who accepts pesos for payment at his Dallas, Texas restaurant.

To follow is my open letter to Pizza Patrón owner Mr. Swad:

Dear Mr. Swad: 

I have heard and read of your endeavors accepting Mexican pesos for purchases at your restaurant and the many negative reactions that resulted. Personally, I think it’s a brilliant idea and I only wonder what took so long to appreciate the singular fact that “money is money,” no matter what the national denomination.

I might even like to encourage you to open up some of your restaurants here in South Florida. We have a very international millieu down here and it’s not unusual for restaurants and hotels to accept payment from international tourists in Danish Krones, Canadian Dollars and Euros.

I grew up in a small city in Canada located about a 120 miles north of the border with the United States, and it was never unusual to see many prices displayed in U.S as well as Canadian Dollars with the exchange rate changed and posted daily.

Many city residents and tourists often traveled back and forth between the two countries and so it was always seen as convenient both for the customers and the store owners. Afterall that’s what NAFTA is all about.

Also, I should note that using two or more currencies for retail transactions in many European countries is not just a sign of cosmopolitanism but rather, it is simply a very common and normal everyday practice.

I am shocked to hear of your ordeals as you described them on National Public Radio programs, trying to counteract the negative and small-minded reaction you have received from some misguided individuals. Rather, I think your very innovative and competitive marketing ideas are laudable and should be held up as a positive example to other businesses.

Mr Swad was clearly onto something, but certainly ahead of the times. Reuters reports, “Euros Accepted” signs pop up in New York City.

View the story at http://www.reuters.com/article/email/idUSN0655798320080206

Entry filed under: Fort Lauderdale, News & Views. Tags: Fort Lauderdale.