Chick-fil-A supporters turn out in droves

By Crystal Tatum (2725)
crystal.tatum@newtoncitizen.com

As of Wednesday, August 1, 2012
© Copyright 2013 Rockdale Citizen

:Staff Photo: Sue Ann Kuhn-Smith A line was backed out the door at the Chick-fil-A in Newton Plaza at lunchtime Wednesday. Customers said the long wait was worth it.

COVINGTON -- Local Chick-fil-A restaurants in Covington and Conyers were jam packed Wednesday as customers rallied in support of the chicken chain amid ongoing criticism regarding an executive's comments about marriage.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a Baptist minister, declared Wednesday national "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day" and word got out to local citizens.

At around 11:30 a.m. at the Chick-fil-A in Newton Plaza in Covington, a line was backed out the door and it was difficult to move inside the restaurant. The drive-thru was slammed as well.

Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy told the Baptist Press last month that the Atlanta-based company was "guilty as charged" for backing "the biblical definition of a family." That unleashed a torrent of criticism from gay rights groups and others, who have called for boycotts and efforts to block the chain from opening new stores.

Joyce and Lawson Cox of Covington were at the Covington location at lunchtime because "As Christians, we believe in what he does," said Joyce Lawson, referring to Cathy. "I think it's great to get out and support what we think."

Judi Sistrunk of Social Circle was there with friends from Berean Baptist Church. "It's a private company and nobody can tell a private company what they can and can't do with their business," she said.

Jane Sheffield of Covington said to her, "It's just a matter of free speech more than anything."

Jackie Rainwater of Social Circle said he agrees with Cathy's support of the biblical definition of marriage. "It really is a polarizing issue but I think the Christian faith needs to be heard," he said.

Caleb Fields of Covington said while he was there to support Chick-fil-A's Christian-based business model, he's a loyal customer for a more basic reason. "They've got great food," he said.

At the Conyers restaurant on Ga. Highway 138, traffic was backed up in the turning lane leading into the restaurant as far as four red lights back, and local police were called in to direct traffic. The traffic jam began as soon as the restaurant opened, according to LA Fitness manager Angela Beard, whose business is located adjacent to the restaurant.

"It looked like somebody was going to a funeral -- a big celebrity funeral," Beard said, adding that Chick-fil-A customers were parking in the fitness center's parking lot.

Major Mike Waters with the Conyers Police Department said two units from the CPD performed some traffic control for a brief period of time Wednesday afternoon to help alleviate a bottleneck that had formed on Ga. 138. He said the configuration of the Chick-fil-A parking lot helped to keep traffic problems to a minimum.

"We're fortunate that there are three or four ways to get in that place," he said, noting that cars can enter and exit through the LA Fitness parking lot next door or on Northlake Drive on the other side of the restaurant.

Waters said he drove by the restaurant a couple of times just to ensure that no problems arose due to the crowd.

"This was a very, very happy crowd," he said. "It seemed that they were enjoying the size of their crowd. ... Everybody was laughing and smiling and having a good time."

Managers at both the Covington and Conyers Chick-fil-As declined to comment for this story.

"Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day was not created by Chick-fil-A," Steve Robinson, executive vice president of marketing, said in a prepared statement. "We appreciate all of our customers and are glad to serve them at any time. Our goal is simple: to provide great food, genuine hospitality and to have a positive influence on all who come into contact with Chick-fil-A."

Opponents of the company's stance are planning a "Kiss Mor Chicks" event for Friday, when they are encouraging people of the same sex to show up at Chick-fil-A stores around the country and kiss each other.

Editor Alice Queen and the Associated Press contributed to this story.

More like this story

Chick-fil-A sets 1-day sales record ( August 2, 2012 )
Chick-fil-A sandwiches become a political symbol ( July 27, 2012 )
Chick-fil-A supporters recognize appreciation day ( August 1, 2012 )
Local Chick-fil-A restaurant team members awarded scholarships ( March 20, 2009 )
Still open for business ( February 18, 2010 )

Rob 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Such an amazing site today! I am sick and tired of the assault on religious freedoms from Obama's administration on down. How is it that the Left has been able to turn Christianity into racism or "hate mongering"? Chick fil A never said it had a "problem" with gay people. They simply stated that they supported Traditional Marriage and somehow the media and the Left were able to distort that into some sort of racism? So glad to see that most American's are not buying into this BS! I will be eating at Chick fil A every day this week.

Frizzlefry 9 months, 3 weeks ago

I'd love to eat at Chick-Fil-A every day this week as well but I'd go broke. :(

Elmo 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Went there for lunch today, it was 2PM, and the place was absolutely still packed to the hilt. The drive thru crowd circled the building, and we had to park way over at the fitness center, and were greeted at the door by the CFA manager. In line about 25 minutes, everyone was friendly, laughing and smiling.

The young lady at the register was obviously tired, but remained as pleasant and polite as the CFA employees always are.

The food was the same outstanding quality as always.

The media and networks are trying to play it down, but it was nothing less than phenomenal. And, it's the same story all over the USA at CFA locations, even in Chicago and Boston.

The event was a home run - no, a Grand Slam - for Chik-Fil-A, and the freedom of speech.

johndoemo_ 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Well dadgum! I guess this is still america after all! I went over there today too for lunch and couldnt eat there because I only had 30 mins for lunch. But it did my heart good to see people standing up for what is right even in such a small way. That SPLOST vote got me excited too. I am just so tired of bad decisions getting made over and over and this was finally a big win. Every SPLOST commercial got me depressed thinking that big money was going to win again but the people spoke up and said no. I love that everyone saw the great commercials and said "No, we don't believe you anymore." I still wish Herman Cain was running for president but you cant have everything.

1ayk 9 months, 3 weeks ago

I guess Onden and Nesbit took a pass today on lunch there!

trusslady 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Dance little puppets, dance. Like lemmings to the sea...............

Elmo 9 months, 3 weeks ago

The lemmings are following obama and the lefties, the rest of us just refuse to join them.

musical_traveler 9 months, 3 weeks ago

I dance when the music is right!

trusslady 9 months, 3 weeks ago

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3689560270595414198#

heresyafacts 9 months, 3 weeks ago

The whole thing is childish on both sides. I don't like this 'We Hate Gays" rally (b/c that IS what that was), anymore than the other side's plan to do stupid kiss-ins and the like. I had no feelings on it one way or another; I know people on both sides who were not going to change their habits based on this incident. But now that it has been politicized, and now that these idiots have made eating at Chick-Fil-A a religious issue, an anti-gay act, I'll be taking my business elsewhere. I don't care to sit in a roomful of sanctimonious lemmings, whether they be far-right wingnuts or militant homosexuals. If you've broken one of the Ten Commandments, if you've cheated on your spouse, if you've had children out of wedlock, if you've stolen or lied to get something -- and you're sitting in Chick-Fil-A crowing about morals of the country and the word of God -- you're a hypocrite, plain and simple. And if the hypocrites stayed home, the Chick-Fil-A's would've been nearly empty yesterday.

IamBabybird 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Hey heresyafacts, Let us take your freedom of speech away from you and and see how long you last. How about, if you voice your opinion your job or business is taken from you. Don't you get it? Have you ever read the 1st Amendment! That is what yesterday was all about. You obviously did not read the article where it said...Dan Cathy told the Baptist Press last month that the Atlanta-based company was "guilty as charged" for backing "the biblical definition of a family." ABOUT FAMILY...THERE WAS AND IS NO GAY BASHING. DUH! Seems to me you are the one who wants to Hate by stir the pot of untruths. There is nothing childish about fighting for your constitutional right or standing by someone that does. And by the way... Our U.S. Constitution, The Bill of Rights Amendment 1 is about "Freedom of Religion, Speech, and the Press; Rights of Assembly and Petition". You might want to take some time and actually read Our Countries Constitution. You might actually learn something. No one including Mr. Cathy was throwing stones, only exercising our right to freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. So don't go to Chick-fil-a, I am sure Chick-fil-a will do fine WITHOUT your patronage. Oh, by the way there is not only the 10 commandments in the Bible, there are actually 613 commandments. The most important is "Love One Another". Have you read the Bible?

heresyafacts 9 months, 3 weeks ago

You said it yourself: this was not about freedom of speech; it was about 'Biblical definition of family.' But if you feel eating a chicken sandwich makes you a good God-fearing Christian, by all means, go ahead. Put those homos in their place.

Elmo 9 months, 3 weeks ago

No, hereyaBS...it was about the freedom of speech. No one said anyone else had to adhere to the Biblical definition of the family, Dan Cathy just said that HE believes in it.

You and your ilk seem to think that a corporation is the government, and you have the ordained power to redress your social grievances to them. A "corporation" is legally a person, and can have any beliefs they like, the only "redress" you have is to not frequent the business.

Christians don't believe a chicken sandwich makes them a "God-fearing Christian" any more that whatever it is that you eat, makes you whatever you are. Food, is food...I know probably dropping out of school in the 7th grade deprived you of some science, but the human body needs food to live, not to be saved.

The "homos" made the first move to try and put CFA in its place, they started it and they perpetuated it with the willing aide of the lamestream media. Nobody - Christian, or not - is going to just lie down and let you, or them, run roughshod over them for not agreeing with them.

You've picked your side, and your side lost - big time - last Wednesday.

Maybe you're the guy who made the "free water" video at the drive thru, if not, you must be related to him.

Elmo 9 months, 3 weeks ago

But, it wasn't empty, it was overflowing. Everyone was in good spirits and the food was great.

Maybe if you'd get out once in awhile and stop pouting because the world is not running your way, you'd enjoy it.

For someone who is so anti-Religious, you sure have a knack of thumping the Bible a lot. I'm betting you could recite the Ten Commandments on a bet.

You sound pretty sanctimonious and holier-than-thou to be blabbering about "morals".

The truth is, CFA is rarely empty, ever.

Oh, and they won't go broke without your business.

IamBabybird 9 months, 3 weeks ago

I was there last night at the Conyers store. It was awesome. Amazing turn out and everybody was having a great time and friendly, we were applauding each time one of us was served our order and at times It was so packed that we were passing trays of food overhead to waiting customers. It was like one massive family gathering. The employees were overwhelmed, tired, having a good time and still extremely pleasant. Finally the christian community is no longer silent. Lets do it again for the next two more days. I will see you there. As far as the opponents on Friday.... Just one thing to say to you. I would prefer not seeing you kissing and making a vulgar seen. SHOW SOME SELF RESPECT. Upstanding people DO NOT show their personal life in public, that is for the privacy of your homes.

heresyafacts 9 months, 3 weeks ago

"Upstanding people DO NOT show their personal life in public..." They don't fly over to a chicken restaurant because Mike Huckabee told them to, either. We have a freedom of religion in this country; we do not have the freedom to lord our religion over other the rights of other citizens.

IamBabybird 9 months, 3 weeks ago

WOW heresyafacts you are a very angery man or woman. Find some peace in your life. WOW. What a nightmare.

Elmo 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Well, the ones who protest don't have the freedom to "lord out" their "religion (more like a cult)" either, but the minute they hear anything they can spin into a "dis", their lapdog media desends upon everyone like obama on a hot dog.

This time, it didn't work...the "boycott" turned into a "BUYcott" and the only rebuttlal was a "kiss-in", which flopped royally.

I was at CFA on Wednesday and nobody...NOBODY, tried to "lord" any religion on me, or even talked about it. We were eating lunch, is that concept too deep for you to grasp? Are you so embroiled in "groupthink" that you don't think individuals can make up their own minds?

BTW, I didn't see any posts from you when the "occupy" crowd were performing lewd acts and using the toilet in the streets all over America...is THAT your crowd? Obama, Pelosi, Reid...the whole wrecking crew were condoning it and pulling their strings...probably funding it too.

On the other hand, Mike Huckabee - a TV/Radio host - doesn't have the power to tell anyone to do anything, but he can have an original idea and thousands of people who are sick of the left telling them what to think, or say, thought it was a great idea, and turned out in DROVES.

I eat at CFA quite often, because I like the food, the service, and the cleanliness. I hear CFA made over $30 million dollars, Nationwide, last Wednesday and is donating a substantial part of it to the very organization the protesters were so upset about to begin with...and that, is a hoot! The whole thing backfired on the detractors and their "protest" ended up benefitting the very group they protested against.

It's the liberals' propensity for createing "unintended consequences". They're always sticking their foot in their collective mouths for they believe their own press. When the people who don't agree with them stand up, they - like you - cry "foul"....or in this case, "fowl".

This is America, and we still have freedom of speech and association; people are tired of being told what to think and believe and they're finally...finally, standing up. If it bugs you so much, well, Delta is ready when you are.

You need to change "heresyafacts" "to heresyaBS"...there was hardly a fact at all in your post...well, most of your posts.

the_shadow 9 months, 3 weeks ago

If you're gay, I dont care. Its none of my business. I support CFA and the Bible. But have some self respect. I certainly wouldnt want to try and have breakfast ANYWHERE with my child present and them see two people of the same sex kiss. Its just disgusting. Think about people other than yourselves; like elderly people and children. Geez...

Sign in to comment

Or login with:

OpenID

Rockdale Citizen