In dark and fog, 100 camp out for free chicken from restaurant

CHESAPEAKE

At 5:45 a.m. Thursday, a human in a cow costume walked through a parking-lot tent city in Chesapeake, slapping high-fives with campers and stopping for photos.

The cow’s visit signaled the finale of a recurring event attended by chicken-sandwich fanatics: the opening of a Chick-fil-A store.

One hundred people who had camped overnight outside the new Chick-fil-A in the Edinburgh section of the city lined up in the dark morning fog to receive 52 coupons for free chicken combos.

Even the store’s owner likened the events to “a cult following.”

At Thursday’s opening, Libby and Jake Knupp were the first in line.

“It’s super,” said Libby Knupp. “Even with the yucky-poo weather with the misty, rainy damp and cold.”

The Knupps weren’t new to “The Herd”– the self-proclaimed name for the first 100 people who camp outside new Chick-fil-A restaurants for 24 hours before they open and walk away with free food.

The overnight adventure at the new Chesapeake restaurant at 205 Carmichael Way was the 15th for the retired couple from Warrenton; they’ve camped outside restaurants in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

And they’re not finished yet.

“The next one is in Roanoke,” Libby Knupp said Wednesday as she waited out the mist in her tent.

Thursday morning, she clutched a coffee cup and wore a thick plaid shirt over other clothes to keep warm.

Participants were required to put on T-shirts and hats that were given to them and to fill out comment cards about their experience before they could collect their coupons.

About 6 a.m., the restaurant’s doors opened and the Knupps were the first to walk in, greeted by clanking cow bells, applause and shouts of congratulations.

The pair said they once gave 52 coupons to a letter carrier who was the subject of a newspaper story because of his good deeds. They’ll also give some to veterans and others who can use them.

Derrick Ward, the store’s owner and operator, said he couldn’t have asked for a smoother opening. He even participated in one of the games that employees organized Wednesday night for the campers.

Security was provided in the parking lot, along with food, drinks and music for the guests, many of whom had attended these opening events in the past.

“I’ve never been to a bad one,” Knupp said.

Cindy Clayton, (757) 222-5201, cindy.clayton@pilotonline.com