FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Brenda Morrow
Chick-fil-A, Inc.
brenda.morrow@chick-fil-a.com
404.765.8064
Tiffany Simmons
CP Communications Inc.
tiffanysimmons@cpcommunicationsinc.com
678.516.0972 (cell)
Tallahassee’s Newest Chick-fil-A Restaurant Opening Sept. 6;
Stand-Alone Restaurant on West Tennessee Street Creates Nearly 100 New Jobs
First 100 In Line at New Restaurant to Win Free Year’s Supply of Chick-fil-A
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Sept. 6, 2012) – Forty-six years after the first Chick-fil-A® restaurant opened in an Atlanta mall,
pioneering mall food courts and introducing its signature boneless-breast-of-chicken sandwich, the chain will celebrate the opening
of its newest stand-alone restaurant in Tallahassee on Sept. 6 by giving away a free year’s supply of Chick-fil-A to the first 100
adults in line grand opening morning.
Chick-fil-A’s “First 100 Celebration” quickly became a hallmark of each grand opening when the chain first held the event
in Arizona in 2003. More than 18 hours before the restaurant opened, the first person arrived and asked where to get in line.
Since then, the chain has given away more than $16 million in free food at almost 600 grand openings. The parking lot parties
attract Chick-fil-A’s loyal customers who come from around the block and across the country equipped with couches, TVs,
computers, tents and other gear. Even extreme weather conditions do not dampen the enthusiasm of the participants who often
arrive more than 24 hours in advance.
The latest Chick-fil-A First 100 celebration will occur at 1775 W. Tennessee St. where the chain will award a one-year supply
of free Chick-fil-A® Meals (52 certificates) to each of the first 100 adults in line, ages 18 and older with identification – which is a total
of more than $26,000 in free food. The line officially opens at 6 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 5, with the free meal cards being awarded
Thursday, Sept. 6, sometime between 6 a.m. and 6:10 a.m. The restaurant will open for business immediately thereafter. If there are
more than 100 people by 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 5, all 100 spots will be determined by raffle. For complete rules, see
http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Locations/First-100.
The newest stand-alone restaurant in Tallahassee features the chain’s latest interior and kitchen design, allowing team
members to quickly serve customers who dine in, drive-through or request catered orders for larger off-site events. The restaurant’s
design and capacity illustrates the historic shift in consumer habits from 1967 when S. Truett Cathy opened his first Chick-fil-A
restaurant inside Greenbriar Mall in Atlanta, to 2011 when the chain opened its 1,000th stand-alone restaurant with the majority of
business now coming from customers on the go.
The new West Tennessee Street Chick-fil-A restaurant is one of 96 locations the chain plans to open across the country in
2012, creating nearly 7,300 new jobs. Despite the challenging economy, Chick-fil-A continued to grow in 2011, reporting recordsetting annual sales of more than $4 billion, representing a 13 percent increase over 2010 and the 44 th consecutive year of sales
growth since the company began in 1967. Chick-fil-A’s overall growth will continue in 2012 with the projected addition of 79 standalone, two malls and 15 licensed locations.
Chick-fil-A continues its Florida expansion in 2012 with the opening of several locations including Lake Worth, Pembroke
Pines, Lakeland, and Tallahassee, with Orlando, Gulf Breeze and Winter Haven to follow Royal Palm Beach. By year’s end, the chain
will have created more than 600 new jobs in the state.
“We are thrilled to follow up a very exciting 2011 where we saw the opening of our 1,000th stand-alone restaurant with
continued growth across the country this year,” said Dan T. Cathy, president and COO, Chick-fil-A, Inc.
“Our outstanding franchised Operators and their team members provide both the freshly prepared food and excellent service
on both sides of the counter that has our customers asking us to bring Chick-fil-A closer to where they live.
Founder Truett Cathy perfected his recipe for a boneless breast-of-chicken sandwich while operating the Dwarf Grill which
he opened in Hapeville, Ga., in 1946. The sandwich became the signature menu item when he opened the first Chick-fil-A, and it
continues to be the hallmark product of the chain as it has grown to more than 1,652 restaurants in 39 states and Washington D.C.
Opening his second Chick-fil-A restaurant in Tallahassee, Terry Widener, franchised Operator of the North Monroe location,
joins a small percentage of Operators in the chain to run two stand-alone restaurants. Widener, who grew up north of Tallahassee
in Cairo, Ga., is a huge Florida State University fan. He, his wife Amy, and their two sons are excited about the new location being
close to the university and look forward to serving the Florida State community.
“Chick-fil-A has come a long way since Truett opened that first tiny Chick-fil-A restaurant in an Atlanta mall 46 years ago,
but one thing has remained constant – our focus on providing top quality food in a friendly neighborhood environment,” said
Widener. “My team members and I share that same commitment at our new West Tennessee Street restaurant, as we do at the
North Monroe location, and can’t wait to welcome and serve our new guests.”
The new Tallahassee Chick-fil-A seats 117 with additional outdoor seating and has warm colors and wood accents
and convenient, award-winning drive-thru service. The new restaurant is open Monday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
(with the drive-thru remaining open until 3 a.m.), serving a full breakfast menu until 10:30 a.m.
Chick-fil-A offers a completely trans fat-free menu and was among the first national fast-food restaurant chains to do so. In
January the chain added grilled Chick-fil-A Chicken Nuggets as a Kids’ Meal option which, when paired with a fresh fruit cup or Buddy
Fruits® Pure Blended Fruit applesauce, is one of the most nutritious children’s meal combinations offered among any major fast-food
chain.
To continue meeting a variety of customers’ menu needs, the chain recently launched a new line of desserts that include a
revamped Fudge Brownie without nuts, baked fresh daily Chocolate Chunk Cookie, and an Icedream® Sundae that can also be
coupled with the brownie or cookie. And for a limited time, the chain has also brought back its Peach Shake this summer.
Chick-fil-A continues to win industry accolades including coming out on top of the 2011 Top 10 Excellent Large Fast Food
Chains survey by Sandelman & Associates. The food service consumer research firm measured responses from almost 108,000 quick
service customers about food quality, customer service and restaurant environment. In addition, Men’s Health “Eat This, Not That”
2012 edition again gave the chain high marks (A-) and named it one of the top two restaurants providing healthier menu options.
Chick-fil-A topped large chain category in Zagat’s 2011 National Fast Food Restaurant Survey that measured the opinions of
6,000 consumers covering 103 chains. With each chain being rated on its quality of food, service and facilities, the survey scored
Chick-fil-A first in service and the chargrilled sandwich categories; and second in the areas of food, best drive-thru, most child
friendly, and facilities. In 2011, Chick-fil-A also received Consumer Reports Top Chicken Chain for food and service.
For more information on the newest Tallahassee Chick-fil-A visit www.chick-fil-a.com/westtennesseestreet.com or follow on
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ChickfilaTennSt.
About Chick-fil-A, Inc.
Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A, Inc. is the nation’s second-largest quick-service chicken restaurant chain (based on sales), with 1,652
restaurants in 39 states and Washington D.C. In 2012, Chick-fil-A will add 96 new locations around the country, including 79 stand-alone
restaurants, two mall restaurants, and 15 licensed locations. Credited with inventing the boneless breast-of-chicken sandwich and first introducing
the chicken nugget concept, Chick-fil-A serves nutritious and freshly prepared food products in mall locations, stand-alone restaurants, drive-thruonly restaurants, Chick-fil-A Dwarf House® and Truett’s Grill® full-service restaurants, and through licensed outlets in college campuses, hospitals,
airports, businesses and industrial sites. Chick-fil-A reached $4 billion in annual sales in 2011, reporting a 7 percent same-store sales increase and a
13 percent increase over 2010 overall sales performance. The record sales marked the 44th consecutive year of sales growth since the company
began in 1967. More information about Chick-fil-A is available on the chain’s websites, located at www.chick-fil-a.com/pressroom , or through
Facebook at www.facebook.com/ChickfilA or Twitter: www.Twitter.com/ChickfilA.