Restaurant nears 10 millionth customer

• Tweet

NEW YORK, May 3 (UPI) -- A 142-year-old New York restaurant said its 10 millionth customer will receive free meals with a guest once a week for the rest of his or her life.

The Old Homestead restaurant, which has boasted A-list regulars including Jackie Gleason, Marilyn Monroe, Tracy Morgan and James Gandolfini, said they expect to cross the 10 million milestone within the next two weeks, the New York Post reported Monday.

The prize, free meals with a guest once a week, boasts a sizable cash value, considering a steak at the eatery can cost up to $48 without any side dishes.

"This prize is clearly not for the faint of stomach," co-owner Marc Sherry said.

Sherry's brother and co-owner, Greg, said the count of customers since the opening of the Old Homestead in 1868 was performed over the course of several months by a team of math experts.

"The accountants and statisticians will be on hand to certify the 10 millionth customer," Greg Sherry said.