Middleton, WI. While most people are working on their holiday shopping, inside of Quaker Steak & Lube, 2259 Deming Way, they’re focused on a different holiday—Festivus.
The holiday spawned from an episode of Seinfeld has been a fixture at the Middleton Quaker Steak & Lube since 2010, bringing in guests eager to air grievances and perform feats of strength all in the name of charity, the true Festivus miracle.
Guests eager to take a picture with the wondrous pole are free to do so, if they bring in a non-perishable food item that will go to The River Food Pantry.
“They say Festivus is for the rest of us, and by donating all the proceeds from the pole, we can ensure everyone has a merry Festivus, or Christmas or Hanukkah,” says Chelsey Gardner, assistant general manager of Quaker Steak & Lube.
But don’t expect any adornments on the pole, that tinsel is far too distracting.
Quaker Steak & Lube will have the pole stationed in the restaurant through all of December. Come Festivus proper on December 23rd, Festivus-goers that bring in a non-perishable food item, get to air grievances by writing their complaints down and placing them around the pole. The best grievance can then participate in the renowned feats of strength.
That’s right, QS&L will have the feats of strength, but it’s done a little differently. On Seinfeld, they needed to pin Frank Costanza, the 70-year-old father of George. At QS&L, contestants will have to take on Gizzard Coop, the 6-foot-tall mascot of Quaker Steak & Lube, in a no hold’s barred arm wrestling match.
“One of Gizzard’s grievances is he’s always lost the feats of strength” said Gardner.
Whoever emerges the victor from the feats of strength gets to keep the coveted Festivus pole, and Gizzard is confident he’ll claim that aluminum pole as his own.
“Maybe this year,” said a wistful Gardner.
The original Quaker Steak & Lube was founded in 1974 and built in an abandoned gas station in Sharon, Pennsylvania as a cook-your-own steak restaurant. Today, The Lube® has won over 100 national and international awards for their wings and 21 different wing sauces, as well as serving award winning ribs. The Lube features unique décor items including Race Cars suspended from the ceilings, Motorcycles, Corvettes and Gas Station Memorabilia decorating the walls.
