Counting down the hours: Chick-fil-A fans gather for free meals
The sun had yet to make an appearance Tuesday morning as Victoria Blackmon and her cousin, Tameya Maxwell, arrived at the new Chick-fil-A restaurant in Columbus. It was about 5:45 a.m., yet they still weren’t the first in line for the tasty opportunity to bag a year’s worth of Chick-fil-A sandwiches, waffle fries and drinks.
It didn’t take long, however, before the Columbus residents were front and center. The first person on the scene departed because they simply could not commit to hanging around for the required 24 hours to receive a digital card for the food valued at $350. The giveaway of 100 Chick-fil-A digital cards with the 52 meals will occur after 6 a.m. Wednesday once the 2730 Manchester Expressway eatery opens its doors.
“I knew what I was getting in to. I came prepared,” said Blackmon, 19, who was sitting at a table with her cousin and new-found friend Lincoln Brandenburg of Columbus, with computers, smartphones and iPad scattered atop it. Brandenburg helped them set up their tent in the parking lot, a necessity considering rain overnight was virtually guaranteed due to a storm brewing along the Gulf Coast.
As of lunchtime Tuesday, there were about 30 adults signed up for the giveaway and wearing wristbands indicating that. Around 4 p.m., that total had just topped 50, meaning that there were plenty of spots left for hardy souls in the market for a big-time chicken sandwich meal fix.
(Chick-fil-A set to open doors in Columbus with traditional giveaway)
(Chick-fil-A begins construction on Manchester Expressway restaurant)
It was a no-brainer for Blackmon, who is a Chick-fil-A fan, but whose father actually tried to discourage her from taking part in the 24-hour wait outside the restaurant.
“My dad was like, you really don’t even need to go to this because you already eat Chick-fil-a enough,” she joked.
Such a statement is great for the ears of Angie Slifer, an event planner for Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A. She has attended more than 100 grand opening events, which are designed to generate a bit of a festival atmopshere. That means giveaway participants will be fed while they wait, with the moment fostering a bit of bonding and friend-making as well.
“We’re just thankful they want to be here,” said Slifer, noting the giveaway evolved after Chick-fil-A fans originally just showed up for the opening of the eatery’s doors. The 52-meal giveaway for 100 people was added later.
“The first time, people just came,” she said. “It was actually organically created, and then we just came along to make it a little more organized and enjoyable for everyone. There is music, we play some games, give out some prizes.”
It was that atmosphere that Dan Phillips of Phenix City was enjoying with his wife and three children as they sat underneath a tent and tarp combination amid cloudy skies, a cooler yet humid respite that meant that the family did not have to crank up a portable air conditioner they brought. They were using the cots and tables and games scattered around them.
Phillips, 55, a teacher in Phenix City, said he had never waited in line for a giveaway, including for the annual Black Friday holiday shopping sales. The bottom line, he said, is that Chick-fil-A food is “very good” and so is the company in general.
“I like what the company stands for and what they do for the community,” he said. “I like how they operate their company and how they reach out ... Whenever there’s a crisis, they’re always there. We have a Chick-fil-A in Phenix City and they do a lot for our school.”
The new restaurant on Manchester Expressway is franchise-owned by Columbus resident Alex Vann, who also operates the Wynnton-Macon Road outlet.
Information about new Chick-fil-A
Here are details from Chick-fil-A about the new 4,877-square-foot restaurant at 2730 Manchester Expressway in Columbus:
The design: It has a heritage restaurant design that showcases handmade, authentic materials for a vintage-inspired interior, including a large gathering table made from reclaimed wood, subway tiles, and light fixtures made from recycled Coca-Cola bottles and peach baskets
The amenities: There’s a two-story interactive indoor play area for children, free Wi-Fi and seating for 128 people inside and 20 outside
The ordering: There’s a designated Chick-fil-A “Mobile One” ordering pickup parking space and dual drive-thru ordering lanes and screens to enable customers to move quickly into a single lane for payment and pickup
The hours: The restaurant will be open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday and, like all Chick-fil-A locations, is closed on Sundays to give employees time with their friends and families. Breakfast is served until 10:30 a.m.
This story was originally published June 20, 2017 at 4:57 PM with the headline "Counting down the hours: Chick-fil-A fans gather for free meals."