Pasadena Restaurants and Retailers Establish Nation’s First Pay-by-Face Network

Part of the Pasadena-based Cali Group company, PopID is deploying its PopPay “face-pay” service throughout local businesses following the successful roll-out of their PopEntry facial recognition device that lets workers and students safely “scan-in” to their workplace and college campuses, company officials said.

A number of restaurant and retail store owners in the city have quietly established the nation’s first dense “face-pay” network, with California imposing strict restrictions to stem the spread of COVID-19, according to a company statement issued Tuesday.

The advanced facial recognition technology allows customers using PopID to add a credit or debit card to their accounts for a safer, truly hands-free alternative to cash, credit cards, or Apple Pay.

The launch kicks off a city-by-city rollout of the contactless payment service, the statement said. 

“In each new city we enter, we initially focus on installing PopEntry systems in the workplace and on local college campuses,” said John Miller, chairman of Cali Group and CEO of PopID. 

“As these communities grow comfortable using PopID to check in, we enlist area restaurants and retailers to offer PopPay for transactions,” Miller said.

A listing of Pasadena restaurants and retailers now accepting PopPay include Again Café, Arroyo Chop House, BAN SUP refill, Barcelona, Bubble Puff and Tea, CaliBurger, Contessa Italian Foods, Daddy’s Chicken Shack, DogHaus, Fair Oaks Burger, The Fit Bar Superfood Cafe, and Food Bar. 

Also included in the list are Lêberry Bakery, Lemonade, Mediterranean Grill, Milkcow Café, Monopole Wine, Parkway Grill, Pho Banh Mi Che Cali, Real Food Cafe, Space Bar Wellness Center, Smitty’s, Sorriso, Taste of Pace, Tortas Mexico, and other businesses. 

Customers can use PopID’s facial recognition payment service at the drive-thru, at an in-venue kiosk, via a display screen affixed to the sneeze guard at the counter, or tableside with a waiter scanning the patron’s face using a hand-held Android device. Once recognized, the business simply draws from the customer’s PopID account before sending a text message confirming payment.

PopID accounts also tie to loyalty programs for automatic credit with every purchase. Users retain full control over their accounts and can opt-out of the secure service at any time, the company said. 

To get customers oriented about how PopPay works, PopID has launched a number of instructional videos on YouTube, such as this:
https://youtu.be/fEMtvi-QsZk, and this: https://youtu.be/0QEOPEnK4E0. 

PopID has been tested and adapted for payment and loyalty programs at regional and national restaurant brands throughout the country over the last three years, the statement continued. 

PopPay follows the national roll-out of PopEntry+, the combined facial recognition and thermal temperature screening device now in use in private and government offices, factories, restaurants, assisted living facilities, sports venues, and on college campuses.

To learn more about PopID and its platforms, visit www.PopID.com.