Chick-fil-A will reward those willing to wait in line for Lexington, Kentucky’s, newest stand-alone Chick-fil-A restaurant opening on June 19 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 at 2514 Nicholasville Road in Lexington. The line can begin forming up to 24 hours prior to the opening, with the prizes being given away on June 19 between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. The restaurant will open immediately afterward.

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 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.

Jeff Stryker has been selected as the franchised operator of Lexington’s newest stand-alone Chick-fil-A restaurant. Stryker began his Chick-fil-A career in 1992 when he was selected to operate the chain’s location at Fayette Mall. He opened Kentucky’s first stand-alone Chick-fil-A restaurant 10 years later on Harrodsburg Road.

The new Chick-fil-A on Nicholasville Road will be the state’s seventh stand-alone Chick-fil-A. Stryker will continue to operate the Chick-fil-A on Harrodsburg Road. Stryker and his wife, Barbara, have seven children, the oldest of whom works with his father at Chick-fil-A.

“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,” Stryker says. “My team and I are eager to continue that legacy at Lexington’s newest stand-alone location.”

Lexington’s 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 Lexington 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. The 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.