April 30, 2008
Early morning crowd forms at Chick-fil-A
Here are some pictures from the scene so far this morning at Chick-fil-A. About 40 people already were camped out in the parking lot of the new fast food eatery on Southern Hills Drive by 8 a.m. this morning.
Chick-fil-A's new standalone restaurant opens in Roanoke on Thursday, but people were invited to wait in line as early as 6 a.m. this morning to be the first 100 in line by opening time. The first 100 there by the time the restaurant opens its doors will receive 52 free coupons for combo meals. There also will be food giveaways throughout the day and evening.
I caught up with people this morning who have been to at least eight other Chick-fil-A openings like this. Melinda Crafton, who drove from Richmond with a carpool of other Chick-fil-A fans, said she still has 80 coupons left from two Chick-fil-A openings in Warrenton and Chesapeake. She's a fan of Chick-fil-A for its fried chicken sandwiches and because it's closed on Sundays.
At 8:20 a.m., a group of eight James Madison University students piled out of a mini van, carrying tents and sleeping bags. They drove from Harrisonburg this morning.
"We all had an opening in our schedules, and it's exam week," said Lilam Smith, a JMU student from Philadelphia.
See video from Wednesday morning.
Comments
[April 30, 2008 10:21 AM]
jeanneThis lady still has 80 coupons from other openings and wants more. This doesn't shock me on how greedy people are. What about people who can't afford to eat out. Chick-fil-a is not cheap.
[April 30, 2008 12:37 PM]
Ed S.I just find it funny that people will *camp out* for what probably amounts to $350 or less worth of coupons, but can't find the time to seriously understand issues that really affect them (such as local politics, elections, public hearings, or even homeowner meetings, etc.)
[April 30, 2008 1:44 PM]
GregI agree with Jeanne. This actually bothers me a little bit. I think it is great how much people love Chick-Fil-A but I think they should find a way to limit these festivites to local residents including college students from area colleges. Also, they should take identification and mail you the coupons and then you shouldn't be allowed to win more than once a year. This would not hurt the opening at all but it would instead bring in the local people you need to keep your business running.
[April 30, 2008 2:47 PM]
shellyI hope this lady will give some of these coupons to a less fortunate person or family. Wouldn't this be a great thing to do!
[May 1, 2008 8:35 AM]
JesseI can't say that I understand the comments here so far... what is so wrong with people standing in line for the grand opening of one of their favorite restaurants? So because people take a vacation day off from work to do it, and get some free food out of it, that automatically makes them greedy? Of course, if they want to give some of the coupons to needy people, I have nothing against that, but if they keep the coupons, that doesn't make them greedy. Come on people, give these people a break. If Chick-Fil-A wants to make these festivities available to the public, why should they have to "limit" them to local residents? Chick-Fil-A is a nationwide brand, so I don't see what the big deal is here. If you can't afford to eat there, don't blast other people who work hard to earn their money, and want to spend a couple of extra dollars to get some great food there. Come on, it's not like Chick-Fil-A is that much more expensive than McD's or Burger King. Give me a break!!!
[May 1, 2008 10:00 AM]
EricI don't think the reaction is towards your average person who wants to go to the grand opening just to get a bunch of free food. It is towards people who go way out of their way to get coupons and still have plenty left from previous openings. Chick-fil-A gives a lot back to the community like sponsoring the Kyle Petty Charity Ride to help out the Victory Junction Gang Camp and many other events. I don't think you can fault the restaurant for not giving back to the community. Just only the ones who continually keep going back to grand openings to get more coupons than they will ever be able to use!
[May 1, 2008 1:45 PM]
ChristineToday my husband and I will eat the last bits of food we have and then continue to pray for my disability check to arrive so that we can do some grocery shopping. Then we'll continue to pray that his pay rolls in before we have to pay rent and hopefully prevent a threat of eviction. I'd have been on that Chik Fil A parking lot if we had the gas to get there and back home again. Times are tough out here!
[May 1, 2008 4:39 PM]
jeanneEach is to their own opinion.
[May 1, 2008 4:47 PM]
GregYou are correct Jesse, Chick-Fil-A is a national brand. So stay home and go to a grand opening in your own town.
Do you actually think that Chick-Fil-A hosts the grand opening give away so the same 100 people can get free chicken coupons? No, they host these to build up excitment in the area where the store is opening; however, we can't enjoy the opening because of the people traveling around the country to get free chicken.
If they were giving away a million bucks at each one I would say first come first serve from wherever you live. I also don't have a problem with people coming to enjoy the festivities, go for it. But when you already have 100 coupons and you can't use them all and now you are in line to get another 100 it sounds pretty greedy.
[May 2, 2008 9:36 AM]
JesseOkay Greg, let's dial it back a little there. You and I both know that you are completely exaggerating when you say that the "same 100 people" go to each grand opening to hog all the coupons. Come one now, let's use a little common sense here. There may have been some people there that enjoy traveling to more than one grand opening, but it's not like every single one of them were there hogging all the coupons. The news story only highlighted about 5-10 of those people in line, and not even all of those people had been to multiple openings (for example, remember the female VT grads?) Even if 10% of those people in line had been to a grand opening before (which is probably too high of a percentage), that's still only 10 people out of 100 that have been to one before. Once again, I don't see a problem with people standing in line to get some free food. And you blast a few people for doing it more than once? And why do you say that they'll never be able to use all the coupons? That's just like saying someone that wins the lottery will never be able to use all that money.
[May 2, 2008 12:13 PM]
GregOnce again Jesse I have to agree with you about dialing it down a bit. You need to read everyone's post before you comment on them.
I said "if" you can't use them all. One of the people Jenny interview said this was her third opening and she still had 80 coupons left. Now she will have 130. Doesn't sound like she is using them.
As for my other comment you again miss the point. So I'll try it another way. Why does any business hold a grand opening when they open a new store? So the people in the community will come out and see what it's all about and hopefully do business at that store. Plain and simple.
I didn't mean to make you break out your financial calculator and apply for a research grant on this one.
This is my last word so let's agree to disagree. I think the festivities should be open to anyone but you should register to win the coupons so the coupons are spread around to different households. You feel differently and I respect your opinion. Now let's all go eat strawberries and support a good cause!
[May 2, 2008 2:16 PM]
JesseActually Greg, you're right, I should read everyone's posts before I comment on them. In fact, that's what I do before I respond to people here, unlike you. You sure are good at assuming things about me considering that you've done it a few times already! (Notice that I haven't done that with you. *wink*)
I do respect your opinion on the ONE person that is saving their coupons up. Maybe we should all go out and spend all our money instead of saving it, too. Good advice!
Don't worry, I got your point about grand openings and the community the first time you said it, so feel free to stop repeating yourself. If anyone missed the point, its you. I like how you didn't respond to the whole blanket statement of the "same 100 people" going to each grand opening to take all the coupons, somehow that got missed. It's okay, today's Friday, I understand.
Speaking of grants, if you have to use a financial calculator to get 10% from 100, you might want to apply for a grant to go back to school. I did that little bit of math in my head, thanks.
So yes, we'll have to agree to disagree. Chick-Fil-A is certainly free to run grand openings the way they want to, and if someone wants to drive a couple of hours (not across the country as you tried to paint it), I don't have any problem with that.