1,000 Free Pizzas Part Of Square Peg's Grand Opening In Vernon

VERNON, CT — Square Peg Pizzeria wasn't fooling around with its official Vernon grand opening event Tuesday. It gave away 1,000 free pizzas.

The Glastonbury-based privately owned chain opened its doors in late March, but staged the ribbon-cutting and grand opening event Tuesday.

The billing was to give away 1,000 pies beginning at 10:30 a.m. and the promotion was to run while supplies lasted, centered around Square Peg's signature drive-up window. The line was moderate during the latter part of the morning, then picked up around lunchtime. At a few points, the line spilled onto Route 83 to the tune of about 15 cars.

The restaurant handled it all with ease. A greeter was positioned at the driveway, who helped snake vehicles around the building. Staffers — even chief operating officer Joe Bennett — brought the pizzas to customer's cars.

"It's been steady, but we've been able to handle it pretty well," Bennett said. "We're having a lot of fun."

A police officer was on watch across the street, but his services were not needed.

The goal was to have the pies last until 4 p.m., but at 1 p.m., there was a chance the giveaway wouldn't last that long.

Square Peg's Vernon location has been open since March 24 after a 23-month construction wait, primarily due to supply chain and pandemic woes.

In late April 2021, Square Peg announced it was expanding into a former barbecue joint at 226 Talcottville Road in Vernon.

Square Peg has a fire-pit inspired patio with plenty of outdoor seating. Inside there is a bar area, a sizable dining room and some arcade games. The giant brick pizza oven is in full view.

The Square Peg cheese pizza was part of the giveaway and the pies are actually a specialty out of the brick ovens. The menu features starters like cheesy garlic bread, pasta dishes, a variety of salads and sandwiches highlighted by the shrimp avocado sandwich and desserts like fried dough bites.

The menu is dominated by the pizza selections like the crispy rectangular Detroit style to a choose your own topping, but front and center on the board are Square Peg's signature brick oven pizzas.
Some of the brick oven favorites are the traditional cheese and pepperoni pies, the chicken bacon cacciatore, the pulled pork, the Figgy Piggy (prosciutto, fig compote, fontina cheese, parmesan, arugula and garlic and lemon) and the Green Ivy (pesto, bacon, mozzarella, parmesan and cherry tomatoes).

Square Peg features a drive through window. Customers can call in an order and pick it up at the window on the side of the building. Drive up orders must be placed in advance.