By Jillian Ogawa
On a rainy Tuesday afternoon, the Hogi Yogi groundbreaking encouraged students to 'take it down' with bricks to initiate the construction of 'The Big House' - a combined Hogi Yogi, Teriyaki Stix, and a new bakery, Glazies, restaurant coming Spring 2003.
Despite the pouring rain, around 600 students from BYU, UVSC, Provo and Timpview High schools attended the event. The chance to throw bricks at a building, free food and hot chocolate were enticements for students to come.
Michael Billikopf, 19, a sophomore from Modesto, Calif. majoring in business management, said that even though he might not get to throw a brick, he trudged in the rain for the free food.
'We knew this location had a lot of students and wanted to get them involved,' said Justin Sperry, 25, a junior from Calabasas, Calif. So he and Lloyd Alburo, 24, a junior from Bergenfield, N.J., hatched the idea of throwing bricks as a way to hit two birds with one stone. One to help with the demolition of Hogi Yogi and Winchels, and the other to satisfy a lot of students needs of anger management, said Sperry.
Sperry and Alburo were recruited through their communications professor, Douglas Micknley, to help Hogi Yogi''s promotion for the demolition party to students.
Alburo said he was a little worried to present the idea to the CEO of Hogi Yogi because it seemed like the campaign was negative. 'We wanted to deviate from the norm,' he said. 'But you don''t want to position your company negative things. But he liked it ''cause it was informal and it captivated the audience.'
Clayton opened the ceremony with a speech thanking the BYU community for its support to the Hogi Yogi and Teriyaki Stix on Bulldog Boulevard.
' have been so much part of this store since 1989 ''cause it is in their back yard,' said Clayton. 'The reason why we had the demolition party was to thank them.'
Cosmo, Provo mayor Lewis Billings and KSL News Radio anchor Greg Wrubell were among the first to break the Hogi Yogi windows. Then the destruction of the building was opened to the rest of the crowd, but before the count of three, the crowd started throwing the bricks and chairs, sending the glass crashing.
'My pent-up anger got released today,' said freshman John Sisety, 18.
Alburo said the main concern wasn''t about the bricks, but maintaining order. But no injuries were reported and 'everything went on as planned,' he said.
The Hogi Yogi and Teriyaki Stix on Bulldog Boulevard were the first stores of the chain. The Hogi Yogi and Winchells are toned down, but the Teriyaki Stix will remain open until three weeks before the official opening of 'The Big House.'