S&T Provisions' Scavenger Hunt Has Everyone Stumped

CHICAGO — Nope, wasn't there. Just got back from checking yet another spot for the coveted "golden ticket," a laminated yellow piece of paper hidden somewhere within a 3-mile radius of the S&T Provisions shop on 111th Street in Mount Greenwood that's been known to locals for years for its delicious pizza set-ups.

Over the last few months, third-generation S&T Provisions Owner Brian Giaretta has held a number of neighborhood scavenger hunts aimed at increasing the reach of his business and helping promote other local shops in the neighborhood as well. They've all been fun and clever for the mostly loyal customers who've been participating.

But this one going on now? It's simply off the charts and has everyone hooked.

"This is definitely our most popular one so far," Giaretta said, adding that it's likely the increment that the clues are being given away that makes this one particularly interesting. There's usually only one clue given away on the business Facebook page every day and they are so vague everyone seems to have their own ideas but nearly a week in no one has come up with the ticket.

It all started a few days before Halloween when S&T Provisions posted on its Facebook page that there's another golden ticket hidden somewhere and that this one is worth $1,000 in cash. In the post, the first clue was revealed: "I'm on a building that's not a house."

Seven clues later and the South Side remains puzzled. Let's recap the clues a bit to help everyone get on the same page.

• I'm on a building that's not a house
• Coincidentally today (on Halloween), I’m within 3 miles of S&T as the crow flies
• I’m in a high trafficked area of a low trafficked area
• South of 95th Street
• It’s considered a local joint, but business is steady
• East of Cicero
• West of Western
• North of 127th Street and no more than four feet from the ground

Another clue is hidden in the lengthy Facebook post embedded above. Maybe the word "legitimate" or the stop sign? Who knows.

Late Tuesday night, Giaretta added a bit of advice to go with the clues released so far. That being you won't be able to find the ticket from your car.

Geographical Boundary

Now we know it's south of 95th Street, east of Cicero, west of Western and north of 127th Street. Another clue came in on Instagram that shows it is within a 12-block radius of an 111th Street street sign, although some aren't exactly sure where that sign is.

But the recent clue "I can see 111th Street" has everyone's search centered on the main thoroughfare in Mount Greenwood.

Giaretta said this is the fifth scavenger hunt S&T has held this year, and the first in which the scope of the clues expand past the 19th Ward area of Chicago. All golden tickets in previous S&T scavenger hunts have been found in Mount Greenwood, but based on the clues given so far this ticket could be found somewhere in Mount Greenwood, Beverly, Morgan Park, Oak Lawn, Evergreen Park, Merrionette Park, Alsip or Blue Island.

"With the first few (scavenger hunts), I was mainly trying to maintain momentum by getting them done in a day or two because I figured it would die off and not be as exciting," Giaretta said.

But this one "seems to be sticking," he said.

"The dollar value sure has a lot to do with it... and I'm releasing the clues as they seem appropriate. Only releasing enough to where people have something to go off of and further their search."

Here's where the golden ticket has been found in previous S&T Provisions scavenger hunts, if this helps:

• Underneath the mailbox at 103rd and Kedzie
• Leaned up against a fire hydrant near 105th and Hamlin
• Nailed to a tree on the 3rd base side of the Brother Rice High School varsity baseball field on 99th Street
• On the S&T Provisions building itself

Giaretta said the golden ticket will remain hidden until someone finds it. Whether that's today or "in April after the snow melts."

"There will be a point where the clues stop, though," he said, sharing that he's already created all of the clues and will release them in an order based on feedback from the followers on Facebook.

"What I do is come up with the place first and then brainstorm on the clues," Giaretta said. "I only give them out creatively and so that someone could figure it out if they look at it from the right angle."

To be eligible, participants need to share the S&T clue posts Giaretta noted are necessary and comment on the others he noted would be required to remain eligible.

For S&T, this unique marketing angle has indeed worked for spreading the word about their business.

"We're local and have a close tie to the neighborhood," Giaretta said. "That is why we are doing it, but it isn't completely unselfish. We do want to expand our reach to people who may not have known about us.

"We are meeting my intent on why we are doing this... both on the business side and developing relationships in the community."