Pizzeria with name similar to video game flooded with calls

LONG BRANCH, N.J. (AP) — A family-owned pizzeria in New Jersey has become inundated with calls from around the country asking if the restaurant inspired the setting for a popular online video game.

Freddie’s Restaurant and Pizzeria, in Long Branch, has received thousands of calls over the past year from people asking if it’s Freddy’s Fazbear Pizza, the setting for the video game Five Nights at Freddy’s, the Asbury Park Press (http://on.app.com/29AMgag) reported.

In the horror video game, the player is a security guard attacked by animatronic robots.

A Freddie’s employee said the restaurant has added phone lines and shifted workers around to handle incoming calls. Regular customers have experienced difficulties getting through and placing their orders.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Edna Moore, a waitress who has worked at Freddie’s for 34 years. “You can get 200 calls in an hour. It’s very annoying. You try to do your job, and you keep picking the phone up.”

The phones usually begin ringing once school lets out and ramp up as the day goes on.

The game’s creator, Scott Cawthon, didn’t respond to an email seeking comment. An automated response said there are no phone numbers associated with the game and noted all locations are not real.

“Please do not call any phone numbers that you think may be associated with the game,” the response stated.

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Information from: Asbury Park (N.J.) Press, http://www.app.com