A family-owned pizzeria in Monmouth County has become inundated with calls from around the country asking if the restaurant inspired the setting for a popular online video game.
The manager at Freddie's Restaurant and Pizzeria in Long Branch says that the pizzeria has received thousands of calls over the past year from people asking if it's Freddy's Fazbear Pizza, the setting for the video game Five Nights at Freddy's.
In the horror video game, the player is a security guard attacked by animatronic robots.
Freddie's manager Oscar Hernandez tells News 12 New Jersey that the eatery receives 200-300 calls a day, mostly from children ages 7 to 12 years old.
"Many times they don't let us say 'Hey, we're Freddie's Pizzeria. We are not Freddy's Fazbear. You're calling the wrong number.' That's why we can't say Freddie's anymore," Hernandez says.
The manager says that the restaurant has added phone lines and shifted workers around to handle incoming calls.
Regular customers have experienced difficulties getting through and placing their orders.
Customer Wes Whalen says that he's had to drive to Freddie's in person to place an order. He has a message for the callers.
"Stop it. Stop being foolish. Get a little more responsibility," he says.
The game's creator, Scott Cawthon, didn't respond to an email sent by News 12 New Jersey seeking comment. An automated response said there are no phone numbers associated with the game and noted all locations are not real.
"Please do not call any phone numbers that you think may be associated with the game," the response stated.
Freddie's restaurant was not receiving many phone calls Tuesday due to a Comcast business phone line outage. Restaurant patrons can still place orders in person or online.
The Associated Press wire service contributed to this report.