In an interview with 10TV, Paul Robbins shared his perspective on the humor found in the sign.
“I thought it was funny, I didn’t think it was offensive at all, and so, that made me really curious about this pizza place, so that made me decide to come in and check it out,” he mentioned.
Heather Stockton, the manager of Santino’s Pizzeria, noted that while many customers showed support for the sign, some engaged in prank calls. She clarified, “It was all supposed to be a joke. Nothing serious, it was just more of the fact, we kept having an applicant, we’d train them and they’d just walk out.”
Owner’s daughter, Jayden Dunigan, explained the motivation behind the sign: “A lot of people we’ve hired just don’t want to work. There is no work ethic behind them, so that’s the meaning behind the ‘Non-stupid.'”
Stockton elaborated on the challenges, stating that many employees were not committed to their jobs, often not showing up or not taking their responsibilities seriously. This prompted the decision to display the sign, emphasizing the need for reliable and punctual workers who adhere to basic workplace standards.
Cathay Barrett, a fellow business owner, expressed support for the pizzeria and its signage.
“I thought (the sign) was awesome because they’re not saying people are stupid, they’re saying, hey, let’s pay attention, let’s communicate, let’s get things going back to the way they’re supposed to be, helping each other,” she remarked.
While some found the sign amusing, others criticized Stockton and the working conditions at the pizzeria. One individual pointed out the importance of fair wages, stating, “If you don’t want the clown shows you end up with, then pay living wages. They earn them. They deserve it. You don’t get to set such standards until you do. Maybe we rather need more intelligent business owners that don’t go using abusive language like that just for starters
