Chick-fil-A, the nation’s second-largest chicken restaurant chain, will reward those willing to wait in line at the new Chick-fil-A restaurant at 5055 Eisenhower Parkway in Macon, Georgia, on July 24 by giving away $26,000 in free Chick-fil-A food to the first 100 adults in line that morning.
A one-year supply of free Chick-fil-A Meals (52 coupons) will be awarded to each of the first 100 adults, age 18 and older with identification, at the new stand-alone restaurant. The line can begin forming up to 24 hours prior to the opening, with the prizes being given away on July 24 between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. The restaurant will open immediately thereafter.
Launched in 2003 to mark the opening of the chain’s first stand-alone restaurant in Arizona, the First 100 Fans promotion continues to draw Chick-fil-A raving fans from all over the country. Armed with tents, computers, games, and even swimming pools, campers turn the grand opening event into an all-night tailgate party.
“When we started the First 100 Fans promotion we were stunned when someone arrived 18 hours in advance and asked where he could wait in line,” says Chick-fil-A Inc. President Dan Cathy, who has camped out at dozens of openings. “Almost five years later, we’ve given away more than $7 million in free Chick-fil-A food across the country to raving fans who’ve braved snow, wind, rain, and triple-digit temperatures to help us celebrate the opening of each new Chick-fil-A.”
Chick-fil-A grand openings attract fans from around the country with some traveling many hours and hundreds of miles from several states away to take part in the festivities.
Craig Craddock, franchised operator of the Chick-fil-A restaurant on Zebulon Road since 1998, has been selected to operate the new Chick-fil-A location in Macon. Craddock’s career with Chick-fil-A started in high school when he worked as a team-member at the Chick-fil-A at Southlake Mall in Morrow. A graduate of Berry College, Craddock will operate both locations after the new restaurant opens. He and his wife, Michelle, are happy to be part of Chick-fil-A’s growth in Macon.
“Since its first chain restaurant opened more than 40 years ago, Chick-fil-A has become synonymous with freshly prepared food, exceptional customer service, and a ‘my pleasure’ attitude,” Craddock says. “My team and I are eager to continue that legacy at the new Eisenhower Parkway location.”
The new 4,227-square-foot Chick-fil-A restaurant seats more than 134 and will create approximately 55 new jobs. The restaurant features warm colors and wood accents as well as an indoor play area for children, which includes an interactive section for toddlers.
With more quick-service customers saying they favor the ease of drive-thru service, Chick-fil-A’s award winning drive-thru offers a convenient way for Chick-fil-A customers to get their freshly prepared food on the go. The new restaurant is open Monday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., serving a full breakfast menu until 10:30 a.m.
With this year forecasted to be the chain’s most aggressive product rollout period in Chick-fil-A history, the new Macon Chick-fil-A restaurant will offer several new menu enhancements.
These include a new Chick-fil-A Chargrilled Chicken & Fruit Salad with Harvest Nut Granola topping and a new Chick-fil-A Chick-n-Strips Salad with strips that are 50 percent larger than the previous offering. Chick-fil-A Chicken Salad Sandwich also has undergone a makeover and is now served on new premium wheatberry bread with leaf lettuce. The chain’s Cool Wraps selections now come in a new multi-grain flatbread.
