In 2012, then-Mayor Vincent C. Gray said he opposed the expansion of Chick-fil-A into the District, calling it “hate chicken,” after the president of the popular chain said same-sex marriages were “inviting God’s judgment on our nation.”
On Wednesday, the city’s first full-service outpost in District bounds — by the Columbia Heights Metro station — is opening, and some Chick-fil-A die-hards warmly welcomed the establishment, lining up in front of the store more than a day before it opened.
Keeping in Chick-fil-A tradition, the first 100 people to arrive at the store’s grand opening Wednesday at 6 a.m. will receive coupons for 52 free meals, one a week for a year. About noon Tuesday, there were just over 20 people in line.
These free meals, say these 20 Chick-fil-A hard-liners, are well worth the sacrifice of sleeping on a Columbia Heights sidewalk for a night and using up a vacation day. Those in line said they were there purely for the chicken, not the politics. (The company’s president has since said he regrets wading into the political debate over same-sex marriages.)
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To qualify for the free meals, those in line must wait there until the store opens Wednesday morning. (Employees are tracking who arrives, when they arrive and ensuring that everyone remains there until the store opening, or else they lose their spot.) But the company is providing some amenities to those waiting. They get food throughout the wait, and they can use the establishment’s restrooms and electric outlets.
Here’s a look at the people who decided to make the wait:
Jeff Cousins
Cousins, 60, arrived outside Chick-fil-A at 12:45 a.m. Tuesday, making him the first person in line and the only one — if he stays until the store’s opening Wednesday morning — who will be able to boast that he slept outside the establishment for two nights.
“As a Washingtonian, I’ve been looking forward to this for 30 years,” said Cousins, a federal government worker who took the day off from work to be the first in line. “To me, it’s a dream come true.”
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Cousins says his wife and kids, who are also fans of the establishment, will be visiting him while he sits outside. He sometimes bikes from work in downtown D.C. to the Chick-fil-A in Crystal City to pick up some treats for his family.
“My family and I are big fans,” he said.
Laura Bibbs
Bibbs, 34, arrived about 5:15 a.m. and is the second person in line, setting up her makeshift camp next to Jeff Cousins.
She first discovered Chick-fil-A as a college student in Pittsburgh and says she’s been a fanatic ever since.
“I’m looking forward to more Chick-fil-A’s opening here,” said Bibbs, who took a vacation day from her local nonprofit job so she could get the free food for a year.
Bibb didn’t realize how hot it would be Wednesday and, around midday, her father, who lives in Mount Pleasant, purchased her a short sleeve shirt from the Target around the corner.
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“I think she’s got some loose wheels,” her father, Stewart Bibbs, joked, conceding that he thinks the chicken salad there is really good.
Josh Geating
When he is not waiting in line for Chick-fil-A, Josh Geating works as an engineer building robots. The 25-year-old arrived just before 6 a.m. to secure his spot because, he says, “I like Chick-fil-A a lot, and I like free food.”
This is Geating’s fifth time attending a Chick-fil-A grand opening.
“I think they have some of the best service and food out of all the fast-food places,” he said. “I’m not too involved in politics, it’s about the food.”
Geating brought a book on building robots, his laptop, Bible, Rubik’s Cube and cards to help occupy his time.
Deborah Frigon
Deborah Frigon, a 55-year-old Navy veteran, isn’t even that big of a Chick-fil-A fan. She thinks its good though, lives nearby, and wants the 52 free meals.
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“I thought it would be a good idea to get a free meal once a week,” said Frigon, who was waiting with her two adult daughters. “I’ve had Chick-fil-A in the past, and I’ve liked it.”
Frigon initially arrived at 3:15 a.m. but had to return home to retrieve some essentials, so is now the 14th person in line.
To occupy her time, she’ll be watching movies on her tablet.
Kris Williams
Columbia Heights resident Kris Williams, a big chicken noodle soup fan, says she’s been to about 25 Chick-fil-A openings along the East Coast. Williams, 60, says she enjoys giving her free meal coupons to friends as gifts.
“This is a breeze,” Williams said of the wait in D.C. She typically has to wait more than one night outside and has to travel much further to get to the restaurant.
Williams brought an iPad loaded with books and games, and plans to call friends while she waits.
“Chick-fil-A is a great place,” she said.
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