Thursday, Jul. 24, 2008

Camp-fil-A: Customers wait it out for 100 coupon bundles

Macon's newest Chick-fil-A got a rock star welcome Wednesday when more than 100 people showed up a day before the place even opened.

By 6 a.m. Wednesday, 77 people were there, many setting up tents in the parking lot 24 hours before this morning's grand opening, Chick-fil-A spokeswoman Julie Bowcutt said.

By noon, there were 130 folks - more than enough to snap up the 100 bundles of coupons the restaurant was giving out to the first 100 folks in line.

College and high school students hung out in the parking lot, playing cards and killing time. Children played games set up by the company. There was line dancing. People dressed up like cows.

One man and his mother drove in from St. Petersburg, Fla.

It was Chick-fil-A opening No. 11 for her, and No. 15 for him, they said. They were by far the first to arrive, showing up at 8 p.m. Tuesday for today's 6 a.m. opening.

That's 34 hours early.

Peggy Coley, 81, said she and her son spent Tuesday night in the car. Like most of the other early arrivals, they set up a tent in the restaurant parking lot for Wednesday evening's rest. Coley's 57-year-old son Richard wore a shirt that said, "I sleep in Chick-fil-A parking lots."

"If I could find an opening that was closer, I would," he said.

He was walking slowly through the parking lot with a cane, and said he had knee surgery about 2 weeks ago.

"We just really enjoy the people," Peggy Coley said. "Everyone's so friendly and nice."

And if you think any of this is crazy, know this: As Chick-fil-A openings go, this one is a little tame. Last week, a new restaurant opened in Athens. Twenty-four hours before the opening, 291 people were waiting, Bowcutt said. The store had to do a lottery to pick its first 100 customers for the 52-coupon packs. Each coupon is good for one original Chick-fil-A sandwich value meal. Those sell for $5.25 plus tax, making the coupon bundles worth about $292.

"I'm in college," Kyle Wilcher said as he waited for his coupons Wednesday. "I'm poor."

But it seemed the coupons were just icing on the cake for many of the people in the parking lot. This was clearly fun for them. Guys threw footballs. Girls sat and talked. People brought air beds for the night. One group brought a futon.

The restaurant, located just off Eisenhower Parkway near Interstate 475, gave out free meals and iced tea throughout the day, and the doors were open so people could use the restroom. An off-duty sheriff's deputy was hired for security. At one point Wednesday evening, a disc jockey played music.

Craig Craddock, owner-operator of the new Chick-fil-A as well as the one on Zebulon Road, was ecstatic.

"Man, we have met some amazing people," he said Wednesday evening. "It's been a very excited, sold-out, raving Chick-fil-A fans group. What I'm learning: It's more than just the coupons," he said. "It's an event."

To contact writer Travis Fain, call 744-4213.