Last Wednesday, March 26th, at 6 am, I arrived at the Chick-Fil-A on Texas Ave in College Station and did not leave until 6:30 am on Thursday the 27th. Why?? Because I wanted to be one of the first 100 customers and win 52 free meals. I succeeded by being number 19 out of 100.
People who I tell this story to react in two ways. The first, complete shock and confusion. These people have never heard of Chick-fil-A's traditional Grand Openings and the ordeal that they are for many people. This first group asks many questions, as my family and many of friends did. The second group responds with either disappointment that they didn't make the top 100 or with eagerness to soon attend a Chick-fil-A Grand Opening. To the first group... my hope is that after reading this you will want to join the latter group and join me at a Grand Opening one day.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why did you get there so early??
- Beginning 24 hours prior to the official Grand Opening (in my case, 6:30 am on the 27th) people can begin arriving and sign in with the Chick-fil-A staff. They give you a number and once you have officially signed in and received a number, you cannot leave the parking lot until the opening.
- Wait... you can't leave the parking lot?
- That's right. Once arrived, you cannot leave and therefore I had to lay on the concrete until my roommate Kristen could bring me my supplies that I needed... sich as a tent and a blow-up mattress. Thanks Kristen! She was kind enough to visit me three times during my ordeal.
- How do they keep track if you leave or not?
- There are roll calls. Yes, roll calls. At random they have you get in line according to your number (mine was #19) and they go down the line and check to make sure you are there. For the wimps who peaced out during the middle of the "race" they get marked off and people take their place. More than a 100 people come and receive numbers, hoping people will drop out.
- What do you eat?
- After each roll call they would walk us in line through the drive thru and give us a chicken sandwich or some nuggets. So technically, I got 4 meals during my time there. I was sick of chicken after that, needless to say. But don't think I won't use my free meals, I will. :)
- Bathroom?
- The store is open to go to the bathrooms. People were there training the entire time.
- What do you do? Just sit in your tent?
- Yes. Though friends visited me. I napped. I studied.
- No. I say "no" because you don't "just sit there"... this is a BIG deal for Chick-fil-A. It brings them a lot of business and publicity. Therefore they treat their people very well. There were games such as limbo and trivia questions. Wednesday night was hoppin. They had a DJ and games, stuffed cows flying from the roof, three big screens with video games going on them. It was crazy.
- Who does this?
- Mostly college students were there. Though there were a few families. What is crazy to me is that people travel across the state attending these things! Seriously one family unloaded a whole bed of a truck with things... they had two tents, cots, another tent for sitting under and all sorts of chairs and food. They follow grand openings!! People near me were heading to another opening this coming week... and had been to openings prior to the College Station one.
- "Is it safe?" -my mother
- Yes. Very. Not only are there people there constantly, but a police man is there. It becomes like a big family by the end.
- "Can I have a free meal?" -everyone
- Perhaps... :)
