Batavia Chick-fil-A Update: Campers Survive Weather, Get Free Meals

Was it worth it?

About 100 folks would say "absolutely."

That's how many people chose to stay camped out in a parking lot until Thursday morning to win 52 free meals from fast-food franchise Chick-fil-A. The company opened its Batavia location at 185 N. Randall Road this morning, Feb. 7.

Store hours for this location are 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday. All Chick-fil-A locations are closed on Sunday. The Batavia Chick-fil-A phone number is 630-761-2640.

Chick-fil-A kicks off every opening with a First 100 event. The first 100 people who are in line at 6 a.m. on opening day receive 52 free meal coupons. The coupons are good at any Chick-fil-A location.

In addition to the free food, participants have said they go for the camaraderie and fun of the event.

“We had a majority of them from Illinois, many from the Aurora area,” said Tiffany Simmons, a spokeswoman for the Batavia opening, via-e-mail. “We also had some drive from as far as Indiana, Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama.”

A total of 96 participants had been there since just before 6 a.m. Wednesday, which was the earliest they were allowed to get on the property to participate. By Wednesday evening, the crowd reached its maximum limit of 100.

Everyone in the giveaway had to sign a release and waiver Wednesday morning agreeing to the restaurant's terms. This included agreeing to stay on the property until the store officially opened at 6 a.m. Thursday. Then the group set up their tents outside in the restaurant parking lot.

Participants for this opening had to endure more compared to other Chick-fil-A openings in warmer seasons and climates. Temperatures were in the 30s throughout the event, and they had to spend most of that time outside. The restaurant provided heaters, and participants were able to go indoors to use the restrooms, Simmons said.

Once the store officially opened, the participants formed a line inside the store to get their meal coupons, wrapped in a small white box with a red bow. They were also given paper hats and t-shirts with Chick-fil-A branding.

While some campers had electronic devices for distraction, the restaurant also hosted DJ Jimmy P from local business Kaptain Karaoke to keep the group entertained. The participants were also served breakfast, lunch and dinner, Simmons said.

The campout was a mild affair compared to some of the openings over the past year. Chick-fil-A restaurants became the scene of protests after statements in 2012 from chief operating officer Dan Cathy supporting the traditional family and definition of marriage as being that between a man and a woman. Critics also pointed out that the company donated to organizations that were labeled as anti-gay.

Chick-fil-A has since publicly stated that it supports every person equally and have ceased donations to organizations perceived as supporting discrimination.

The Batavia Chamber of Commerce was scheduled to hold a 9 a.m. opening day ribbon cutting at the restaurant with Batavia Mayor Jeff Schielke.

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