E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSA Florida man just wanted ketchup on his Philly cheesesteak sandwich at Subway. When he didn't get it, a confrontation with the sandwich maker ensued, leading to a 911 call.
Now-former Subway employee Lawrence Ordone told TV station WFTV he was working behind the counter at the sandwich restaurant in an Orlando Walmart on New Year's night, when a man ordered a Philly cheesesteak.
"He (the customer) wants ketchup on the Philly cheesesteak and I have never put -- we don't even have ketchup at Subway -- I've never put ketchup on anybody's sandwich," Ordone told WFTV.
The restaurant chain -- famed for its "$5 footlongs" and diet commercials with "Subway Guy" Jared Fogle -- does not offer ketchup, according to a menu on the Subway website. Only condiments like mustard, mayo, vinegar and oil are available.
When the customer, Luis Martinez, rejected the ketchup-free sandwich, another customer in line offered to buy it, WFTV reported.
Related: Stuck ketchup problem solved by MIT engineers
It's disputed what exactly happened next. Ordone claims Martinez mouthed off to the customer, so he came around the counter, and he told WFTV he felt threatened when Martinez said he had "something" for him and walked toward his car.
Martinez claims Ordone threatened to kill him in front of his wife and called 911, WFTV reported.
"I was scared," Martinez told WFTV. "Next thing, I'm thinking a gun's going to come out."
By the time the police arrived, Ordone reportedly had fled the scene.
Related: 9 condiments that are good for you
Whatever the details, Ordone said he regrets his actions that led to his dismissal. "You can go buy your own ketchup, and I promise to God, you can put as much as you want on it and nobody's going to say nothing," he told WFTV.
A spokesperson at Subway's corporate headquarters did not immediately return NBC News' request for comment Friday.
(Hear it in their own words: Ordone and Martinez separately tell their sides of the story to WFTV.)
More content from NBCNews.com:
- Fiscal cliff deal includes at least $67.9 billion for special interests
- State worker accused of showing Adam Lanza's body to husband
- Court: Flipping the bird at a cop doesn't warrant arrest
- Profanity-laced YouTube video gets officer fired
- Video: ‘Pecs,’ ‘legs,' ‘frisking’: Biden works the room at photo-op
Leave a Comment:
I can understand this Patron being upset. Try going to Braums Ice Cream and asking for a Pineapple Malt. They make wonderful malts there. But refuse to make a Pineapple Malt. They have all the ingredients but still won't make a Pineapple Malt. I always make a point to ask for one. When they tell me no, I ask for directions to the Local Dairy Queen. I'm surprised they let me keep coming back.
you keep going back to the same place after threatening to go to their competition?....uh, you might be a dumb@ss
It's stuff like this that makes my head hurt.
I want Congress to hold a hearing on just what went wrong here! That should keep them away from the real problems for months...
I am sure the NRA will support an armed, "Stand Your Ground" law stance for the customer.
Everyone knows that ketchup is everyone's right as an American.
It should be illegal not to have ketchup in ALL stores...including clothing stores.
That is a really insipid comment. If you want to add unrelated commentary into the article how about an investigation into Martinez' immigration status?
As for guns? There NEVER were any in this story!
Well, now, that's very odd. I have been able to get ketchup at the Subway Stores in Mass...
Must be a state by state thing.
Both you and the Subway customer are incredibly stupid and immature, and you both desperately need to get a life, and counseling. Why get so built up over ketchup ? And YOU are going back to the same place and keep asking for something they don't have, then keep asking for directions to DQ. What a dumb@ass !!!
Ketchup on a Philly Cheese Steak? Do the world a favor and shoot him.
Just another example of Americans and their ATTITUDE.
deweydan - You are one very stupid person leading a very insignificant life. How many trips does it take for you to learn two things - Braums doesn't make Pineapple Malts and the directions to the local DQ? A 3 y.o. learns after the third try that when something isn't successful, try something different. As for Braums letting you back, I'm guessing they want the whole staff to see that there really is somebody in the world that "slow" and have a great laugh after you've left.
I'm with the poster who said to check his immigration status. Anybody that wants ketchup on a Philly, can't possibly be an American!
Mmmmm....Philly....
I think I'm going to order my lunch take out today.
Luis Martinez
A waste of taxpayers dollars. Calling the police over a ketchup dispute. Bill the caller and the person fired from the Subway. I live in Iowa, and they have ketchup, mustard, mayo on the counter. Who cares what the man wanted on his sandwich. If he wants ketchup, give the man his ketchup and send him on his merry way.
Now we have another dumbazz unemployed that will be supported by the taxpayers until he can get off his fat azz and start looking for another job.
Who the hell wants ketchup on a Subway? There's no reason for them to provide it.
Mr. Binkie
Why the hell do people eat at Subway in the first place. My guess, they are too lazy to make a sammich fer them self at home.
ACLU will now force Subway and all other restaurants to stock ketchup. Crazy world!
I only like ketchup with fries and sometimes scrambled eggs....
Sally Rocks classically
Well they already serve tomatoes at Subway, why not Ketchup.
I'm calling 911. Somewhere in the culinary world it's got a crime to add ketchup to eggs. /lol
I used to have lunch with a salesman who would always order tapioca pudding for dessert. Of course, the restaurants never had it. But, one day, he ordered it at a place we hadn't been before and, lo and behold, the waitress brought him a bowl of tapioca pudding to him.
As far as asking for ketchup on a Philly Cheese Steak sandwich, that can get you arrested in Philadelphia.
That's funny madtown. I've lived in Philly, and yes, it's a crime to ask for ketchup on your cheesesteak.
Even though I don't have a gun, I believe responsible people have a right to carry . . . but reading more and more stories like this, I keep wondering how do we keep weapons away from people so unstable they'd threaten to kill someone over asking for ketchup.
As well it should get you arrested in Philadelphia.
However, no one from Philadelphia (or anyone whose visited) could possibly mistake what Subway serves as a genuine "Philly Cheesesteak".
With extremely rare exceptions, if you order a "Philly Cheesesteak" outside of Philadelpha what you'll get is a roast beef sandwich.
Katchup? On a cheesesteak? Shooting that guy should have been justifiable homicide.
That's it! I've heard enough. Next time I go into a Subway shop with a good looking woman behind the counter I'm going to demand to see her t!ts. I won't leave until she does since she won't be able to deny she has not got any.
Ah so many comments on here from people who think that their taste preference would somehow (insanity?) give them the prerogative to assault somebody because they asked for something that doesn't sound good to you.
That's seriously nuts! No wonder Philly is known as a crap town if the locals actually have it in their heads that there is a right way or a wrong way to eat a food. Apparently they have never heard of regional variations, personal preferences - or (what a concept) the fact that fusion cuisines are some of the very best foods out there.
If more people had this close minded view, we wouldn't have food like the various American styles of pizza, we would not have Chimichangas. We would not have bacon infused vodka. Because the first person who thought it up would have been assaulted by one of these numbskulls who think that their regional preference is the ONLY way.
Sheesh... ketchup on a cheese steak sandwich doesn't sound good to me either - but to suggest that he should be shot? Damn NevadaJ-577866 you really need to pay attention to how real people interact with mutual respect. Not needing to threaten violence on them for having a different food craving... Wow man, just wow! I don't care that you were probably "joking" - it's NOT at all funny.
thinker -
"...since she won't be able to deny she has not got any."
Maybe you should do a practice run at Arby's.
@NevadaJ-577866: With extremely rare exceptions, if you order a "Philly Cheesesteak" outside of Philadelpha what you'll get is a roast beef sandwich.
True! The only legit place I've ever found is Carl's on 3rd Avenue & 35th in Manhattan.
I grew up in the Philadelphia exurbs and lived for 12 years in South Philadelphia. I have always had ketchup on my cheese steaks, never marinara sauce, and in fact never heard of sauce on a cheesesteak until we moved to Lancaster, PA. Go figure.
WTF??? Why didn't the man say "we don't serve ketchup".... Anyone who goes to Subway knows that...
Again a state to state thing. I have gotten ketchup in Subway's in Mass.
It must be unique to Mass. Subways here (California) list their various ingredient choices (types of bread, condiments, etc.) so that the undecided do not jam up the line. Honey mustard, mustard, mayo, oil, vinegar, salt, pepper yes. Ketchup (or catsup) no.
which is why the breakfast menu at subway does not sell. sorry, but you can't eat microwaved eggs without catsup.... personally, i can almost choke it down with salsa or even honey mustard, but good old fashioned heinz catsup has the ability to make almost ANYTHING edible...just ask burger king, lol....
UGH, eggs, microwaved or not, with ketchup. YUCK! Ketchup is a bad taste with anything, but BREAKFAST? ICK!!! Have you ever looked at the ingredients in the stuff?
I've complained to corporate Subway about a couple of things and have been told that all Subway stores are franchises and, as such, are privately owned and therefore everything, from condiments to offerings and prices are controlled locally by each individual owner. The Subway local to my sister's residence, in Iowa, doesn't serve regular mayo, only lite. The local Subway in my neighborhood rarely offers the nationally advertised $5 sub for $5 - it can be anywhere from $5.50 to $7.
...and since it appears that neither was carrying a concealed weapon, they are both alive.
You can't say that! Don't you know only responsible people should carry? Never mind everyone is responsible until they aren't.
I don't think weapons have to be concealed in Florida. Either of these guys could have sttod their ground. However, they could shoot only one person per round with a limit of a single 100 round banana drum........and without ketchup.
With more people like ketchup guy out there, we made need more guns.
For all you know, they may have both been carrying concealed weapons...and they are both still alive.
Hundred round banana drum? Oh, I get it, it squirts out 100 bananas!
Food preferences are regional and I recall that years ago in Canada with fries, they had no ketchup, only Mayonnaise. (not bad) There was also years ago in Philly, a place called "Papa Leones" or similar, great sandwiches but then WHO would even want ketchup on it!
Senior moment! Papa Leone's was in upstate New York. There was however a great sandwich shop in Philly, just can't reminder the name, best cheese steak I ever ate! But it apparently went out of business because it wasn't there on my last visit to the "City of Brotherly Love"
.
This sort of thing is embarrassing to me as an American. It is right up there with the story about a month ago where a guy got killed over a pork chop. It WAS the South, but cheeses!
People need to calm down, accept those little fluctuations that happen in life, and move on.
Nobody puts ketchup on a cheese steak sandwich. Luis Martinez is the culprit in this case. Lawrence Ordone lost his job because of stupidity of some asinine Latino.
How TRUE your statement is.
to be fair, a philly sandwich from subway has already suffered far greater indignities than catsup could ever bring.
So Ordone lost his job why? Because he failed to magically produce the ketchup that Subway doesn't stock? Or because he called 911 when an unruly customer threatened him?
seems to me Ordone was fired for leaving his post. Of course the journalist fell down on the job by not reporting a better article. Ordone left.... Does that mean he left the other patrons standing there? Was the store left unlocked? The cash register un-attended? Only a TRUE journalist would have reported those details.
Abdabadoo: Martinez only said: "I have something for you." Ordone's imagination, (or his attempt to explain why he left the store, or cover for HIS purported death threat against Martinez? - again; no mention of a gun) conjured the presence of a gun. No threats were made, no guns brandished. Psheeesh, folks, are we reading the same article?
jukkou,
With the way American society is going with the right to carry laws, shootings over nothing; yes I would imagine he could think this guy was going for a weapon. Sad either way you slice it.
Businesses generally don't like it when their employees threaten customers.
I don't think you read the whole story at all. Ordone is clearly not conducting himself in a way that Subway would like its employees to behave. Ordone openly admitted to confronting and threatening the man.
http://www.wftv.com/videos/news/interview-subway-worker-on-ketchup-confrontation/vmS8M/
In Florida, imagining someone has a gun is being used as a defense to kill them. Google "Michael Dunn / Jordan Davis". The alleged killer claims that he "saw" a gun in the vehicle of the victim and therefore felt compelled to shoot him in self-defense.
He lost his job for being stupid and escalating the confrontation when he "came around the counter" after Martinez mouthed-off to another customer. And it was Martinez who called 911 because he felt threatened, not the Subway employee. Not saying Martinez's actions were justified, but Ordone certainly could have handled the situation better.
This same defense is used fairly often by police. In Seattle, a cop unloaded his handgun's magazine into a drunk with a folding pocket knife....which was subsequently found closed. (At least this cop was fired!)
Hey, I'm from Philly, and I like ketchup on my cheesesteak (although my fav is a cheesesteak hoagie with mayo and peppers). Yeah, it's frowned upon, but if you go to Pat's or Geno's or Jim's (or most other places), they serve fries as well.....so ketchup is always available (just be sure to add it yourself).
I'll never understand why Subway does not, at least, have ketchup packets. Then again, Subway is disgusting. If you are eating that garbage, and live in a northeast city, you should be beaten to death. That aint no philly ch'steak!
If I ate a philly cheesesteak on anything approaching a regular basis, I'd be 100lbs heavier. A Subway veggie sandwich on wheat, however, won't do me any harm. Unless I put ketchup on it, of course.
"As far as asking for ketchup on a Philly Cheese Steak sandwich, that can get you arrested in Philadelphia."
madtown: I've lived in Philly and had 10,000 cheese steaks in my life and had ketchup on every single one -- and enjoyed every last bite. You should try it, it's great.
One of my grandchildren puts ketchup on everything he eats, doesn't make it good. A fellow in Texas I used to know put that Tabasco hot-sauce on everything he ate! I suspect his tastebuds were long dead!
VaGator
That's right.
Born and raised in Philly and ALWAYS put ketchup on my cheesesteak sandwich.
Both you and the Subway customer are incredibly stupid and immature, and you both desperately need to get a life, and counseling. Why get so built up over ketchup ? And YOU are going back to the same place and keep asking for something they don't have, then keep asking for directions to DQ. What a dumb@ass !!!
john,
Repeating a comment won't make it anymore relevant to a public forum such as this.
Um, that would be classified as being a jerk, same as this idiot at Subway that demanded ketchup. If they don't have what you want, or don't offer it the way you like, go somewhere else. You don't need to be an arse about it.
No actually, it's a subtle form of whispering a demand in their ear, and reminding them that there are costs for being robots.
I'm sure if the McWorker at Braun's (assuming you mean that chain, but forgive me if there really is a Braum's too) had bothered to ask the McManager, the McManager would have gladly charged an additional a la carte fee and had them make it for you. Considering the fact that you can generally have a number of different ingredients blended in, their Point of Sale system likely already supports it - they just may need the McManager to quote a price to key in.
Although asking for directions to DQ is perhaps a little too over the top, I myself have tried to order beef lo mein at a regional quasi-Chinese food chain. They made it for decades but randomly pulled it from the menu about 10 years ago - and it was what I ordered 90% of the time I went there. So sometimes intentionally and sometimes from old habit I'll ask for some lo mein. They mention that they don't carry it. I ask them to pass on word to the McManager that there would be demand if they brought it back to the menu. Still no lo mein... which in their case suggests too rigid of a mind set - since their menu lists how much a quart or a tray costs - and it's the same across the board except for shrimp items. The beef probably cost quite a bit more than chicken (it normally does) so instead of just pricing the beef dishes (or maybe just the lo mein which had a lot of meat in it) higher than chicken, they got rid of it.
That's a poor way to run a restaurant, especially since it was one of their best selling items.
Some people are willing to substitute lemon chicken... but I want my lo mein.
There's nothing wrong about reminding them about gaps in their service/menu. You will never get a restaurant to improve either of them without customer feedback.
Poorly written article - it is not clear why Subway fired the man. The reporter should have included their reason. We don't know if the dismissal was plausible or not; from the article, it seems utterly absurd that they fired him.
Probably because he threatened a customer's family, then ran off, as it states in the story.
I am shocked they don't have ketchup in Florida subways. We have it here in Virginia and West Virginia, along with hot sauce as an option. After all, if you are going to sell the egg subs for breakfast you'd be foolish not to carry ketchup. (Lot's of us like ketchup with our eggs, although sometimes I take the hot sauce option.) As for the behavior of the people in the article - there's not enough information to judge. But whoever makes the decisions of which condiments to stock for that subway needs their head examined.
As for the principles behavior in this article - not enough information to decide just exactly what happened.
"Ordone claims Martinez mouthed off to the customer"??? Martinez was the customer.
Um, I think the writer was referring to the customer who offered to buy the ketchupless philly cheesesteak.
Somebody here couldn't cut the mustard.
Hey thats,
I can see why you didn't use ketchup.
Subway should offer all condiments. They really need to Ketchup to their competition!!!
Why can't there be ketchup? I never understood that concept. Why mustard, but no ketchup? I just went to Subway for lunch yesterday. I almost asked them if they had ketchup just out of curiosity, but don't really like ketchup on my sub, so I didn't ask. But ketchup is so common, and many people use it, so why not carry it? Why mustard and not ketchup? :'(
There is absolutely nothing at Subway that needs, or would be better with, ketchup. My fellow Americans are a weird lot.... ketchup on eggs? WTF? Ketchup on a cheesesteak? Ketchup isn't even that good - salsa is a lot better, as is mustard - but "we" seem to put it on everything, which is particularly disgusting.
Hey, to each his own. Some people put ketchup on pie! If you want ketchup on something then it's better with ketchup.
But, if the place you are in doesn't have ketchup don't go bananas, just leave or do without.
Hire the guy back. Any moron that's so picky about what he sticks in his mouth to temporarily satisfy an appetite needs to stay home and make it himself or be held down and force-fed a ketchup-less sub sandwich.
Put him in prison, rather. He mouthed off and will now pay for it.
IMHO learn how to cook, and you'll never have to put up with what restaurants will and will not do ever again.
There is a Subway located in walking distance from where I live. You won't find me in that particular store because of discrimination. Was in line, instead of taking my order, he took the order from the person behind me. I walked out, and haven't been back since. As popular as Subway may be, how many avoid doing business with them?
If they don't want to provide a customer what they want, I would think that the condiments may be found in your own home.
You were probably one of the "ditherers", who despite the helpful lists of choices just canNOT make up their mind about what they want.
Most of the Subway employees cannot speak English where I live. They learn assembly line techniques like squirting a ton of mayo in the middle of your sandwich. I want the mayo on the bread - and it is impossible to communicate with them that you need something different. Or they will put the tomato and lettuce on the mustard side instead of the mayo side. I'm not that particular - that's the way you make a sandwich/sub - the bread needs a little something on it .... not sure why they teach them that way...but my point is that Subway employees are taught one way of doing things - if you try to ask them to do it another way they either make like they don't understand you or have a hard time doing it.
I stopped going there -
I stop going to any business with employees who can not speak and understand english.
Ban assault ketchup.
We need to ban assault foot longs.
Im American, and believe it or not we dont all like ketchup. If its thats important bring your own, fill your glove box with little packets. And avoid being shot over something so friggin stupid.