I received a frantic text message from my editor one day in November with a photograph attached. The photo was of numerous pitched tents in front of the new Chick-fil-A, which happened to be opening the next day. He wanted me to drive over to the fast food chain to see what was going on, and I was blown away when I arrived and learned what was actually happening.
Apparently, whenever Chick-fil-A opens a new location, the first 100 people to walk through its doors will receive free (tasty, fried and wonderful) chicken for a whole year.
The caveat is you have to camp out, starting the day before the grand opening… in the parking lot.
Chris Crawford, from West Monroe, La., and other Chick-fil-A enthusiasts camp outside of the new store on College Drive on Wed., Nov. 16, 2011. The first 100 people into each new Chick-fil-A will receive free chicken for a year. (Photo by Erin Parker / 225)
I spent about an hour of my afternoon chatting with campers, asking their intentions and reasons why, and captured a few good stills, as well. I even got a few invitations to camp out with the current campers for the free chicken prize.
Sadly, I had another assignment shortly after this one and had to head out.
However, Chris Crawford’s (pictured above) answer to why he was camping for Chick-fil-A made me smile: “A year of Chick-fil-A is worth it. If it was McDonald’s or Taco Bell, I wouldn’t be here.”
