The Alexandra is a pub like most of the other thousands of pubs in England. The watering hole and community gathering spot in the southwestern London neighborhood of Wimbledon is old, tastefully decorated, and attracts a pretty consistent and loyal clientele.
Some of those customers showed just how loyal they are, and how a pub really can be a community nexus. On December 21, someone at the pub found a large envelope marked only with the word “Mariusz.” Inside the envelope, however, was a ton of cash, likely the Christmas salary of a guy named Mariusz (pronounced “Marry-Ush.”) The pub used its Twitter account to try to find Mariusz, using the hashtag #FindMariusz, so as to reunite him with the money he likely very much needs for the holidays and beyond. Ever since, the pub has relentlessly used social media the right way, composing tweets and Facebook messages to get the word out.
I’ve just been informed we found a pay packet here last night. Tell me which bar it was in, your name & how much, it’s yours to pick up. pic.twitter.com/ZZwMknWplj
— The Alexandra (@TheAlexSW19) December 22, 2017
Please RT. We found a pay packet here last night. If you can tell me the name on it, which bar it was in & how much cash, you can come & get it.
— The Alexandra (@TheAlexSW19) December 22, 2017
Ah @WimbledonNews there you are. We found a pay packet in the Alex last night. Only got a first name on it, and obviously a Christmas bonus thing. I think it was a group of builders, head man was called "Geoff". Could you put the word out please?
— The Alexandra (@TheAlexSW19) December 22, 2017
They even used security footage from the night in question to try to identify Mariusz.
This group of lads, Thursday night in the Alex, builders or construction or something. ONE OF YOU LOST A PACKET WITH MONEY IN IT, WE'VE GOT IT!! Please if anyone recognises them, let them know. pic.twitter.com/7KikU0C3c3
— The Alexandra (@TheAlexSW19) December 23, 2017
Another picture, this is from the pub next door. The boss (nearest us) and Big Eastern European guy leaving. This group dropped the wages. pic.twitter.com/ePGxNump88
— The Alexandra (@TheAlexSW19) December 23, 2017
The Alexandra didn’t stop there. Somebody wondered if since Mariusz was a Polish name, they should spread the news in Polish, too.
So the lost pay packet. The guys name is MARIUSZ pronounced Marry-Ush. It is a POLISH name. Do you know a guy called this? Tell him…. pic.twitter.com/EIEvcjWzL3
— The Alexandra (@TheAlexSW19) December 24, 2017
Here's a plea in Polish… Witam, znalezlismy koperte z pieniedzmi (prawdopodobnie czyjas wyplata), we czwartek, w barze przy ulicy Wimbledon Hill Road "Alexandra". Skontaktuj sie z nami, jesli wydaje Ci sie, ze to moze nalezec do Ciebie.
— The Alexandra (@TheAlexSW19) December 23, 2017
The holiday spirit-fueled drive to get Mariusz his money soon became a quest for many. More than 3 million people saw the Alexandra’s tweets.
https://twitter.com/4ndrewJames/status/944973405534720000
https://twitter.com/kate_bili/status/945965773863964672
And, well, it worked.