Known in the southern regions of the U.S. for its fanatical fan base and billboard campaigns featuring cows encouraging readers to “Eat mor chikin,” fast food chain Chick-fil-A is expanding into the uncharted territories of Southern California.
A new Point Loma location at 3570 Sports Arena Blvd. will be one of four stand-alone restaurants operating in San Diego as the company pushes to branch out into the western part of the country.
But the news of Chick-fil-A’s West Coast arrival does not come as a surprise to loyal customers. Insiders know that the company is offering free Chick-fil-A for a year to the first 100 people through the door, and not even pride will stop some chicken- and waffle fry-crazed fans from sleeping out front of the store to ensure their place in line.
Point Loma resident and former Beacon editor Eric Yates said he plans to camp outside the night before the grand opening, but laughs at being referred to as a “Chick-fil-A Fanatic.”
“Fanatic’s kind of a strong word, but that might be appropriate,” he joked.
Yates said he first tasted Chick-fil-A as an impressionable 8-year-old while living in Colorado. On his favorite menu item, Yates did not hesitate: “I’m a fan of the nuggets.”
Of its cult following, Yates said he can’t quite put his finger on what it is that makes the food so good.
“It’s just really, really good,” he said. “It’s like a taste explosion in your mouth.”
Chick-fil-A spokesperson Julie Bowcutt said she thinks the chain’s combination of fresh menu items and quirky advertising campaigns are what generates such a positive response.
“They’ve got cows hanging off billboards all over the country, mostly in areas that are more highly populated with Chick-fil-As,” she explained. “It’s a billboard campaign that’s 11 years in the running “” they love the cow.”
Chick-fil-A “” which offers healthier items like fresh salads, wraps and chargrilled chicken sandwiches to complement the standard fare with a Chick-fil-A flair (chicken sandwiches, milkshakes and fries) “” boasts on its site that “All Chick-fil-A chicken products are prepared fresh daily.”
According to the company’s Web site, Chick-fil-A has more than 1,240 restaurants in 38 states and is one of the largest privately held restaurant chains and the second-largest quick-service chicken restaurant chain in the nation, according to annual sales.
Uniquely, Chick-fil-A also mandates that every restaurant across the country be closed on Sundays.
“Truett Cathy, 85 years old, created the company and the Chick-fil-A sandwich,” Bowcutt said. “He really wants to keep his employees happy and he wants to give them a day off. He wants them to spend time with their families.”
Yates estimated that he will eat at the Point Loma store two to three times per week after it opens “” maybe more if he gets through the door and secures free grub for a year.
Of the grand opening celebration, Bowcutt said that people can expect a family-friendly party featuring a deejay and games.
“We expect a bunch of people to come and raving fans to come and camp outside the restaurant the day before it opens,” she said. “The have not proven us wrong yet.”