As the chain expanded nationally in 2000 (though it was first used in Chicago in 1996 to compensate for the Chicago area's surge in area codes from just 312 to the current nine, beginning in 1989, and just after the suburban 708/847 1996 split), meanwhile, the greater New York City metropolitan area was the first region to participate in Empire's roll-out in 1999 where the same tune was used, but with an 800 number prefix added for the company's toll-free number: