Chick-fil-A fans flock to Dallas restaurants to show support for stance on marriage

Dallasnews ^ | August 1, 2012 | Talia Richman

[NYer]

Dallas-area fans of Chick-fil-A showed up in droves at the fast-food restaurant today to show their support for the chain’s stance on marriage.

“I was drawn to Chick-fil-A this morning not only because it is Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day, but because the company supports the biblical definition of marriage,” said Richard Norris, a first-time Chick-fil-A customer visiting the Preston Road location. “They’ve always stood for good Christian values.”

Norris was among thousands of customers who ate “mor chikin” today, lining up to heed the call of conservative pundits who stood behind the Atlanta-based company’s leader. Lines of cars snaked around the block in Upper Greenville, and in the underground location downtown there was extra security and a two-hour wait to order.

A torrent of criticism from the gay community was unleashed last month after Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy told the Baptist Press that the Atlanta-based company was “guilty as charged” for backing “the biblical definition of a family.”

Customers at Dallas Chick-fil-A restaurants had no criticism for Cathy on Wednesday.

Frederic Martin planned to eat all three meals at Chick-fil-A as to statement for Christian values. With each bite of his oatmeal and yogurt parfait, chicken sandwich and chicken-fruit salad, he says he is taking a stand against “the people who want to utterly destroy the Judeo-Christian values this country is built upon.”

“People who are boycotting Chick-fil-A are full of hatred against the God they do not know and against the Constitution they have not read,” the 66-year-old said.

Radio host and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee declared Wednesday national “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day,” and more than 600,000 people declared their intentions to participate on the Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/events/266281243473841/) set up by the one-time presidential candidate and Baptist minister.

[hollywood]

Folks, for your proof of media bias: go to cnn.com, msnbc.com and foxnews.com. Good luck finding much about Chick-fil-A Day on the first two. Such losers: they’re missing the story of the day, week, month. This “Day”, in fact, could turn the election. Meanwhile, the LSM pouts on the sidelines, refusing to cover it and turns their cameras away from the real deal. So mature of them.

[Marcella]

You can go to their website and buy a shirt or hat or water bottle and other items.

[5thGenTexan]

I tried to eat there for lunch. The drive-thru line literally wrapped around the building twice and went out into the street. They needed people directing traffic where the line had to cross to spiral in and had multiple people with headsets taking orders along the line so you could skip box at the menu. It still would have taken longer than we had. We will not be as rushed for dinner.

[notaliberal]

I think there is one in Fairfield

[SaraJohnson]

We did and it was swamped so we moved on because we were short on time.

[wbill]

So they'll pretend it didn't happen

I've seen a few articles about the Wendy's location that put up supportive signs, then later took them down. Also, Wendy's put out a mealy-mouthed statement about "supporting all of our customers", or somesuch.

However, nary a peep out of the MSM that I've seen about the other franchises. Figures.

[jakerobins]

[libertymaker]

I was at Schaumburg, IL today with my son. We waited 75 minutes in line outside just to reach the inside. We counted no fewer than 300 people in line during the entire time. Double-lane drive thru wrapped around the store and into the adjacent lots.

We got interviewed by the Daily Herald reporter. Two other photographers from papers there. News helicopter flying overhead. At least 8 traffic cops directing traffic and major boulevard ( Golf Rd)

Young CFA staffers running in and out of the restaurant bringing trays of ice water to the hundreds of patrons standing in line. Everyone very friendly.

My son got interviewed by two guys from breitbart.com. Dozens of entire families their with children in tow. Many tea partiers there ( including us) with signs and T-shirts.

The elderly couple behind us said they drove down from southern Wisconsin. They are very engaged in this issue.

Overall, a very inspirational event with tons a like-minded folks. Everyone there counting the days to November.

Going back tomorrow for round two!

[TWfromTEXAS]

Sugar Land, Texas - SW of Houston - 11:05, it took 35 minutes just to get into the parking lot. People giving me a thumbs up for my Ted Cruz bumper sticker.

[Bob]

I think there is one in Fairfield

While that one's a little closer, unfortunately, it's still over a hundred miles away. :=(

[patriotsoul]

Hubby and I went to CFA in North Richland Hills (Fort Worth) around 1:00 p.m. Two lines wrapping around the building and the drive-thru lines were even longer than that. But they were most efficient and courteous in serving us quickly. Great meal! Was very pleased to see all age groups and many racial backgrounds represented. Everyone seemed quite tickled with themselves to be a part of such a statement. As the old saying goes, “Right On!”

[lightman]

Crown America, owners of the West Manchester Mall in York, Pennsylvania barred reporters from speaking with people in line and even from taking notes:

http://www.ydr.com/local/ci_21208671/chick-fil-supporters-pack-local-restaurant

I support private property rights but you don't check First Amendment at their door.

Some of the Twitter comments:

# RT @regularguy Unreal RT @sadkins75 A mall security guard outside Chick-fil-A stopped me from taking notes. Directed me to the Mall office. by wisashl via twitter 8/1/2012 4:41:41 PM 12:41 PM

# West Man. mall official told me that I can't speak to people on line at Chick-fil-A. Said the mall was private property. by sadkins75 via twitter 8/1/2012 4:39:46 PM 12:39 PM #

A mall security guard outside Chick-fil-A stopped me from taking notes. Directed me to the West Manchester Mall office. by sadkins75 via twitter 8/1/2012 4:37:16 PM 12:37 PM

Pretty repressive, if you ask me.

[DeathBeforeDishonor1]

Thats awesome! I stopped at Golfsmith knowing Id never get a sandwich in my lunchtime slot but I got video. I saw the news crews.Im going friday to interview the extremists.

[Gator113]

Record sales of ammo, guns and now chicken sandwiches, by golly, this guy is a heck of a salesman.

Maybe this is what he counts as jobs created.

[whd23]

1,600 franchises out there, and I have to live in the state where the CFA owner is a homo-sympathizer (Nashua, NH)...

Thanks for the heads up. You've saved me a trip!

[NYer]

Hollywood ... you're right insofar as poor media coverage but WE know what's happening out there. The following image was taken outside a Houston restaurant. All of these images were sourced via Yahoo news.

HOUSTON -- More than 100 people turned out Wednesday for 'Chick-fil-A' appreciation day at a store location off Highway 290 in northwest Houston

The lines at the Chick-fil-A counter during "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day."

Customers stand in line for a Chick-fil-a meal at the chain's restaurant in Wichita, Kan., on Wednesday. Aug. 1, 2012. The crowd was buying meals to show their support for the company

Chick-fil-A Supporters Line Up for Appreciation Day (ABC News)

[rlmorel]

"HAND SALUTE..."

"...TWO!"

[lowbridge]

Now that’s a good picture! :)

[DuncanWaring]

Try this:

https://www.facebook.com/events/266281243473841/

[afraidfortherepublic]

Well, we have only one Chick-fil-a restuarant in Wisconsin in a mall in Racine more than 50 miles from my house. So, I went on line and ordered a T shirt to show support. Later, I found out that Wisconsin Family Council was sponsoring Chick-fil-a cards in a donation plan. Details are on another thread.