Rain could not deter 50 people from the lure of free food.

Toppers Pizza, 1015 W. Lincoln Highway Suite B, started off their grand opening Saturday by giving away free pizza for a year to 50 people.

The idea started four or five stores ago and the business received a great turnout.

Toppers’ manager, Alex Konkel, said the idea came when numerous customers would call and the employees simply needed something to tell them.

“125 people would show up for just the party,” Konkel said.

The DeKalb Toppers seemed to attract the same number.

The last person in line, Hany Abdel, a sophomore communication major, was nicknamed “Fifty” when he showed up at around 9 p.m. Friday.

“I had to regulate the line with my umbrella to make sure I kept my spot in line,” Abdel said. “Four people tried to cut.”

The earliest person showed up at 3:30 p.m. a day before the grand opening, Konkel said.

All of the first 50 people spent the night outside the restaurant. Many had chairs and blankets, while some brought tents. Others slept in their cars. Despite the rain that began at around 2 a.m., the entire group of 50 stayed.

“It’s a good story to tell down the line, tell to the grandkids,” said 2003 NIU alumnus Amir Mohabbat.

Erik Norman, a 2006 NIU alumnus and another winner, said they were one of the few with a tent.

“We were safe when it rained,” Norman said.

The winners received a coupon booklet of 52 coupons, valued at $500, for different menu items. Coupon winners are allowed to use one coupon per week for the next year.

Other prizes also were raffled off for those who did not receive a booklet.

Konkel said this promotion idea shows Toppers is different from the established restaurants in town.

“Our food and good deals and nice employees can take over the town’s competition,” Konkel said. “We’re not scared of anyone.”