Chick-fil-A Opens in Delray Beach

Chick-fil-A opens its first Delray Beach location, turning its parking lot into a sort of tent city.

Dozens of people converged on the restaurant's parking lot at 1900 S. Federal Hwy., setting up sleeping bags and tents to camp out for as much as 24 hours in the hopes of being one of the fist 100 people in line when the doors opened this morning. So what does these fist 100 people win?  A new car? A swimming pool filled with lightly fried chicken filets? Not exactly.


According to the company's website, each of the first 100 people will receive a grand prize of one Chick-fil-A Meal per week for a year (valued at a whopping $250). 

Whatever you think of the prize, people set up their little sleeping spots and hung out for hours, eating Chick-fil-A provided by the company. 

Chick-fil-A has become much more than the typical fast food restaurant. It's become a divisive political symbol with people on both sides of the marriage equality issue citing it in arguments. The openly Christian company (which famously closes on Sundays), came under fire when Dan Cathy, the company's CEO and heir to the feathered throne, stated his anti gay marriage views in a 2012 interview with the Baptist Press, which resulted in protests and boycotts of the sandwich chain (and an "atta boy" from Mike Huckabee). 


In 2014, Cathy told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he regretted “making the company a symbol in the marriage debate”, and, although he hasn't changed his personal views on the subject, he decided, "the wiser thing for us to do is to stay focused on customer service.”


As for the chicken, well, people do seem to love the classic sandwich, made from a boneless breast of breaded chicken, cooked in 100% refined peanut oil, and served on a toasted, buttered bun with dill pickle chips. 

It's too late to get your free year's supply of chicken, but if you want to head out to the Delray opening, the store is holding a book drive to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Delray, so bring a book when you go. Chick-fil-A is open Monday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and is closed on Sunday, you heathens.