At a time where everyone’s routine has been thrown out the window, at least one thing has stayed consistent: Ali Sobh and the Hungry Howie’s on Alexander Street are still keeping Plant City fed.
Back in March, shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic led to his restaurant shutting down its buffet and dine-in options, Ali Sobh told the Plant City Observer it would be “a cold day in hell before someone in Plant City goes hungry as long as I’m here.”
The temperature down there must still be in the high hundreds, as Sobh and the Hungry Howie’s at 208 N. Alexander St. haven’t stopped living up to the restaurant owner’s bold statement.
Sobh’s restaurant, like many pizzerias that deliver, has not been dealt a crippling blow by the novel coronavirus. He was prepared for the loss of his buffet to government regulations and noticed, even in mid-March, delivery and carryout orders were increasing in both frequency and size. That Hungry Howie’s didn’t need to change much to adapt to these changing times, and the fact it didn’t require a major overhaul likely helped the staff with its latest mission — helping others.
For many residents, that looks like special deals and discounts. On March 16, Sobh announced on social media parents could bring in their children from that day through March 20 to get a free junior pizza and that customers age 55 and up would have their delivery charges waived so they wouldn’t have to leave the comfort of their own homes.
It also looks like pizzas delivered free of charge to local businesses, essential workers and others affected by the pandemic. Hungry Howie’s has donated its food to police officers, workers at South Florida Baptist Hospital, to Plant City High School employees working on the Grab and Go program and residents at Grace Manor at Hunters Creek, and Sobh has also started surprising local businesses like Winn-Dixie, WellMed, CVS, Publix, Star Distribution and many more with free lunches on Fridays.
“I’m a big surprise guy,” Sobh said. “I like surprising people just to see the reaction. I decided to do it every Friday because it’s my favorite day of the week and the day where most businesses have the most employees. You’re the most staffed right before the weekend. I decided to do so many businesses because most of the companies I go to aren’t strangers. It’s a way to say thank you because they supported us during the good times, so we’ll support you doing the bad times.”
Sobh said by last Friday, his staff made more than 250 pizzas for these businesses and essential workers. By his own estimates — assuming one pizza feeds three people — that’s fed approximately 750 people around town. That’s also not including the salads, breadsticks and other options that have come with the free pizzas.
People can nominate businesses to get hooked up with a free lunch on social media, such as the @hungryhowiespc Instagram, by messaging Sobh directly.
Helping hungry Plant Citians in need has become a trademark of Sobh’s and of his restaurant in recent years. The restaurant also made an impact during dark times in 2017 as one of two pizzerias, along with neighboring ABC Pizza, that stayed open during and directly after Hurricane Irma passed through Plant City. Even though the restaurant’s warehouse flooded during the storm, they still fed hundreds of people with whatever fresh food they had on hand those days.
Though no one is sure when society can go back to normal again, Sobh is determined to keep Plant City from going hungry for as long as he and his staff are able.
“As long as I’m able to stay afloat,” Sobh said, “I’ll continue to do it.”
