ORLANDO, Fla. – Two radio hosts from Wausau, Wisconsin, have worked for about a year to bring a Red Lobster to their city — and their charge made its way to Central Florida.  

The duo, Ryan Gallager and Paul Grinsel host a weekly show dedicated to economic development in the area. After talking with many members of the community, including the mayor, one thing was made clear — Red Lobster is needed. 

So, out of their own pockets, they bought a banner to fly above Red Lobster’s headquarters to make a plea to the company’s CEO Damola Adamolekun. 

On Thursday, the banner flew around the chain’s headquarters in Downtown Orlando, which read, “Damola, Wausau, WI loves Red Lobster! Please? XO.”

Red Lobster posted a photo of the banner on social media, asking who did it.  

“I mean the whole point was to get their attention, and I think we did that, obviously based on social media reaction,” Grinsel said. “I think — mission accomplished.” 

The nearest Red Lobster to their city is in Green Bay, about an hour and a half drive away. But Gallager said he often makes the drive since the restaurant is next to the stadium where the Green Bay Packers play, even becoming friendly with the manager.  

Last year, the duo chartered a “lobster bus” where about 50 Wausau residents got on and rode together to Green Bay to eat at that location. They said Green Bay rolled out the red carpet for them and even brought out the local high school marching band for them. 

Other creative measures that the hosts were a part of to entice the restaurant chain include having a Broadway alumnus sing a song to Red Lobster and having someone get a tattoo of the brand’s logo. 

“We were looking for the most devoted Red Lobster people and fans, and one of the ways that he wanted to show his devotion to the brand Red Lobster and the mission of getting a Red Lobster to Wausau was to tattoo Red Lobster’s logo with Wausau underneath it in hopes that it was to manifest destiny,” Gallager said.  

Meanwhile, News 6 did reach out to Red Lobster for a response on the banner or if it had any plans to bring a restaurant to Wausau, and at the time of publication.

We have not received a response. However, it did make a statement on Facebook which reads, “Know that we hear you all in Wausau, and while there are no current plans to expand, we’re listening!”