FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Brenda Morrow
Chick-fil-A, Inc.
brenda.morrow@chick-fil-a.com
404.765.8064
Cindy Chapman
CP Communications Inc.
cindychapman@cpcommunicationsinc.com
678.546.0494/678.858.1325 (cell)
Costa Mesa’s First Chick-fil-A Restaurant Opening April 26;
First 100 in Line at New Restaurant to Win Free Year’s Supply of Chick-fil-A
New Stand-Alone Restaurant on Harbor Boulevard Creates 70 New Jobs
COSTA MESA, Calif. (April 26, 2012) – Forty-five 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 first stand-alone restaurant in Costa Mesa on April 26 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 3181 Harbor Boulevard, just off the 405 Freeway, 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, April 25, with the
free meal cards being awarded Thursday, April 26, about 6 a.m. The restaurant will open for business immediately thereafter. If there
are more than 100 people by 6 a.m. on Wednesday, April 25, all 100 spots will be determined by raffle. For complete rules, see
http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Locations/First-100.
The first stand-alone restaurant in Costa Mesa 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 Chick-fil-A on Harbor Boulevard becomes the 13th restaurant in Orange County and the 49th in California since the
chain began its expansion in the state in 2004 with its first stand-alone restaurants in Irvine and Chino Hills. Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A,
which has a West Coast corporate office in Orange County, will open next at Fashion Island in Newport Beach in June.
Costa Mesa’s first Chick-fil-A restaurant is one of 96 locations the chain plans to open across the country in 2012, creating
nearly 7,000 new jobs. Despite the challenging economy, Chick-fil-A continued to grow in 2011, reporting record-setting annual sales
of more than $4 billion, representing a 13 percent increase over 2010 and the 44th consecutive year of sales growth since the
company began in 1967. In 2011, the chain continued its Chicago expansion with the opening of several locations including a
downtown restaurant that opened to record sales as well as its first restaurants in Hollywood, Calif., and Idaho. Chick-fil-A’s overall
growth will continue in 2012 with the projected addition of 79 stand-alone, two malls and 15 licensed locations.
“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. In fact, the team at Costa Mesa will be glad to provide a
‘Backstage Tour’ of the new location to restaurant guests.”
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 1,620 restaurants in 39 states and Washington D.C.
Franchised Chick-fil-A Operator Tammy Guadagno will relocate from the chain’s Santa Ana location to operate the new
stand-alone restaurant on Harbor Boulevard. An Alabama native and graduate of Samford University, Birmingham, Guadagno grew up
working for Chick-fil-A and was selected as an operator in 2006. Since moving to Orange County to open the Santa Ana Chick-fil-A,
Guadagno has been actively involved in the local community, leading an annual drive to provide food for the homeless, partnering
with local schools and organizations, and receiving recognition for her business leadership and generosity from the Orange County
Register and the Orange County Business Journal.
“Chick-fil-A has come a long way since Truett opened that first tiny Chick-fil-A restaurant in an Atlanta mall 45 years ago,
but one thing has remained constant – our focus on providing top quality food in a friendly neighborhood environment,” said
Guadagno. “My team members and I share that same commitment at our new Costa Mesa restaurant and can’t wait to welcome and
serve our new guests.”
The new Costa Mesa Chick-fil-A seats 130 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.,
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 To Go applesauce, is one of the most nutritious children’s meal combinations offered among any major
fast-food chain.
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 new Costa Mesa Chick-fil-A visit www.chick-fil-a.com/costamesa or follow on Facebook at
Chick-fil-A Cost Mesa.
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 1,620
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.