More than 100 camped out for Chick-fil-A grand opening contest
Copperas Cove’s first Chick-fil-A restaurant will open Feb. 20, bringing nearly 70 new jobs and the chance for 100 adults to win free Chick-fil-A meals for a year as the chain marks the 50th anniversary of its signature Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich.
Chick-fil-A’s “First 100” event, which began in 2003 as a way to celebrate the first stand-alone Chick-fil-A in Arizona, immediately became the cornerstone of every Chick-fil-A grand opening when the first person arrived the day more than 18 hours in advance wondering where to get in line. Others soon followed and by the time the restaurant opened for business the next day, more than 100 were waiting.
Humbled and surprised by the dedication of its fans, Chick-fil-A quickly implemented the “First 100” at every grand opening and in the past 10 years has given away almost $21 million in free food at more than 750 grand openings.
The new Copperas Cove restaurant at 202 Robert Griffin III Blvd. will be the scene of the latest Chick-fil-A grand opening celebration. The first 100 adults, ages 18 and older with identification, in line when the doors open about 6 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20, each will win a one-year supply of free Chick-fil-A® Meals (52 coupons with each consisting of a Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich, medium Waffle Potato Fries™ and a medium drink) – a total of more than $30,000 in free food. The line officially opens at 6 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 19, with the free meal cards being awarded Thursday, Feb. 20, about 6 a.m. The restaurant will open for business immediately thereafter. If there are more than 100 people in line by 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 19, all 100 spots will be determined by a drawing held that morning with those selected needing to camp out to secure their spot. For complete rules, see Chick-fil-A First 100 Promotion.
As part of the grand opening, the new Copperas Cove Chick-fil-A will support the Coryell County Rainbow Room by collecting new items on Feb. 19 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. In appreciation for those donating items to the charity, a card for a free Chick-fil-A sandwich will be given. Limit of one free sandwich coupon per a person. Those camping out also will be engaged in a competition to see who can collect the most items by engaging family and friends to donate in their name. The top collector will receive an additional prize for their efforts.
The Rainbow Room is a non-profit, 24-hour emergency resource center available to Child Protection Service caseworkers to help them meet critical needs of abused and neglected children. Stocked with all new items from clothing to cribs to hygiene needs to snacks, the Rainbow Room is solely run by volunteers and serves all of Coryell County with 100 percent of all donated funds going directly to children/families in crisis.
Stephen Kennedy has been named the Operator of the new Copperas Cove restaurant. Kennedy graduated from Baylor University in management information systems and worked as a consultant in his field of study for nearly eight years prior to deciding to change careers. Kennedy worked at a Waco Chick-fil-A restaurant and was a Chick-fil-A interim manager for nearly six years before being given the opportunity to run the new Copperas Cove location. His wife Ann and their three children are excited to be a part of the Copperas Cove community.
“Our focus on freshly prepared food and personal customer service is as central to our new restaurant as it was the day Truett opened his first Chick-fil-A location,” said Kennedy, whose store will be participating in the area Chick-fil-A’s “Soup for a Hungry Soul” February campaign where for every soup purchased one will be donated to the Salvation Army. “That commitment continues for me and my team members at our new Copperas Cove location where we can’t wait to continue welcoming and serving our guests in the community.”
Chick-fil-A first entered Texas in August 1970 with an opening in La Palerma Mall in Corpus Christi. The new Copperas Cove Chick-fil-A restaurant is the 283rd for the state and the second of five scheduled to open in Texas in less than three months – creating more than 350 jobs in the state.
The new restaurant, offering free Wi-Fi, is the first of its design in the country for the chain and will seat 130 with an additional 25 outdoor seats. The grey toned, stainless steel look incorporates recycled elements such as a chandelier made out of recycled Coke bottles that hangs over a community table made of recycled materials. Eco friendly technology elements that save on electricity and water also have been incorporated.
Along with featuring the chain’s latest kitchen design, the restaurant includes dual drive-thru ordering lanes to expand its award-winning drive-thru service. Two drive-thru lanes will welcome motorists who will place their orders at separate screens and then merge into a single lane to pay and pick up food. With a majority of customers at Chick-fil-A stand-alone restaurants choosing drive-thru, the ability for two drivers to simultaneously order will mean quicker service. The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., serving a full breakfast menu until 10:30 a.m.
It was 50 years ago that Cathy first began serving his boneless breast-of-chicken sandwich, pressured cooked and served on a buttered bun with two crucial pickles, at the Dwarf Grill in Hapeville, Ga. It was the signature menu item when the first
Chick-fil-A restaurant opened in 1967 and though many other selections have been added over the past five decades, it remains the centerpiece of the menu as the chain has grown to more than 1,786 restaurants in 39 states and Washington D.C.
As part of the chain’s ongoing commitment to offer fresh, delicious and nutritious options, the new Copperas Cove restaurant’s menu will feature its new line of premium salads that are handcrafted onsite using top-quality ingredients and include Cobb, Asian and Grilled Market Salads and a Grilled Chicken Cool Wrap. For a limited time, the chain brought back its popular Chicken Tortilla Soup made with shredded breast of chicken, three beans and a blend of vegetables and spices and topped with seasoned corn tortilla strips.
Chick-fil-A continues to win industry accolades including Men’s Health “Eat This, Not That” 2013 edition which again gave the chain high marks (A-) and named it one of the top two restaurants providing healthier menu options.
For more information on the Copperas Cove Chick-fil-A restaurant visit Facebook www.facebook.com/cfacopperascovetx.