Via iStockphoto / @ariaharms TikTok
A woman thinks Chili's is leaving money on the table by not officially selling its blue margarita shaker cups. But can you buy them?
Olive Garden sells its trademark white, rotary cheese grater. So why doesn’t Chili’s offer its blue margarita shakers for sale? That’s the burning question one customer has for management of the popular Tex-Mex chain.
And Aria Harms’ (@ariaharms) argument is a simple one: They’d probably make a ton of cash doing so. She recorded her pitch while seated at one of the restaurant’s locations, with one of the iconic shakers in her hand.
“I cannot in words describe how much of a missed opportunity it is that Chili’s does not sell these,” she says.
Harms adds that the novelty of owning a product with the franchise’s branding on it isn’t its only selling point but that its functionality as a shaker is unmatched.
“I would purchase a million of them. They are the greatest shakers,” she says.
Despite her love for the tumblers, Harms conceded that she will not stoop to petty theft in order to possess them. “And I will not steal one, because I respect the Chili’s. Sell them, immediately,” she says toward the end of her video.
Can You Buy Chili’s Margarita Shaker?
The popular dine-in restaurant chain does indeed sell merchandise. And while much of it is indeed margarita themed, the containers Harms showed off in her video aren’t for sale. There ate hats in different colors, a plastic keychain, tees, a sweatshirt, and cabana shirts. There’s even a fanny pack, but alas, no shakers.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t buy any online. If you’re lucky, you might be able to find someone selling them on eBay, like this blue Presidente emblazoned shaker that’s going for $20.26 as of this writing.
Harms isn’t the only person who expressed interest in wanting to take these shakers home. Folks in this Reddit r/Chilis sub post opined about their keen desire to possess the holy grail of margarita mixing. One person asked if they’re allowed to keep the shaker, and a Chili’s employee urged them not to take it unprompted. “Please don’t [steal it] lmao we only have like 4 left at my location,” they penned.
Someone else wrote back, “No, those are washed and reused over and over. People do steal them occasionally, but they aren’t for single use!”
Just Ask The Bartender?
But another Reddit user said that customers can buy them directly from the chain; all they have to do is ask. “Your bartender can charge you I believe $3-$4 dollars for them,” they claimed. Additionally, they suggested that this is a common occurrence—so common, in fact, that Chili’s lists the item for purchase in the restaurant’s checkout interface. “They’re in the miscellaneous section of the POS system,” they wrote.
Where Does Chili’s Get Its Shakers From?
The restaurant probably doesn’t have a kitchenware manufacturing plant. More than likely, the brand buys these blue cocktail shakers en masse from a supplier. So all one would have to do is identify whoever’s making these tumblers and purchase them directly there. And from the looks of it, Wasserstrom is the one behind the very margarita shaker that’s captured the hearts of so many diners.
The business touts itself as “a trust family name in restaurant supplies & equipment” on its website. And, wouldn’t you know it, it lists that very same blue plastic shaker cup on its website with the Presidente logo etched on its side. Although, this particular listing says it’s currently not available for sale.
We Get To The Bottom Of It
BroBible called a Chili’s in Secaucus, New Jersey, and spoke with Dante, a manager there. He says that the margarita shakers are indeed available for purchase, but only inside the restaurant. Whether or not you’ll be able to buy one varies from location to location and the amount of shakers they have on hand at any given time. “It is possible to purchase the shaker cups at Chili’s. It’s not like we have a crazy supply of them. We get cases of 20 or so. People buy them and eventually we have to replace them,” Dante tells us, adding that the tumblers range from $5 to $8.
As it turns out, Harms made this discovery herself. She returned to a Chili’s and ordered a Presidente Margarita before asking her server if she could purchase the shaker it came in. Her server, initially confused, roped in a manager. And voila, Harms walked away from Chili’s successful with a shaker in hand.
@ariaharms @Chili’s Grill & Bar please sell the shakers. i’m begging.
Furthermore, BroBible’s also contacted Harms via email for more information on her post.