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
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Amendments
Oops, you'll have to adjust your calculations because after 12 hours you have to spend extra time filling out forms but you also need to factor in the impact of being made to wear a T-shirt and hat hawking fast food. You all can decide whether that raises or lowers the compensation package.
I guess its better than camping out to celebrate biodiesel methane processing plant openings.
Why...
...is it necessary to be so hateful? These people are harmless. They could be following something worse than Chik Fil A grand openings.
Whatever happened to your sense of humor? Can't understand a story unless it involves blood, shooting, killing, missing children, fraud, tax evasion, dog fighting, etc.
Wow.
pointless
I like Chick-fil-a but these elderly idiots are obessesed and selfish. I hope they die of overclogged arteries
This...
is news?!?!?!?!?!
some people have no
some people have no lives...really this isnt even worth reporting or a comment
Front-page news?
This is front-page news? Shame on you, Denis Finley.
So true!
Someone once wrote that "15% of the world's population rule the other 85%"...those standing in line were definitely in the 85%...
Selfish retired couple
I think the retired couple are incredibly selfish people. To go to all these grand openings and take two potential prizes away from local people in a community is the height of rudeness. The grand opening is for the LOCAL people to come out and enjoy a possible free gift from a new store. And to do it for 15 years, I don't find you two amazing. I just hope I don't recognize you when our Chick Fil A opens. I'm going to let other people in line know what I think of your selfishness. What's worse is the two retirees probably bring grandkids or friends with them. Further taking more free prizes from local people. As more and more selfish people do this trapsing around the country for free coupons,I see Chick Fil A ending this nice gift.
Oh never mind
unbelievable
and you wonder
if some of these people vote too.
with the post that contractor found
that equates to 312.00 (if the avg. meal is 6.00) so even for 2 people that would be 624.00. Which means to make the "54K annual amount" they would have to attend 87 (rounded up from 86.538) grand openings a year to do that.
Mathematical Discrepancy
This was from a link in a previous blog in the VP. I have never "did the math" myself on this one, but, might help with the calculations for those that choose to....
"A one-year supply of free Chick-fil-A® Combo Meals (52 coupons) will be awarded to each of the first 100 adults, age 18 and older with identification, at the new stand-alone restaurant at 205 Carmichael Way in Chesapeake." Mike Gruss Blog about chicken nuggets
When the chickens come home to roost ...
... this couple's $54k "salary" is considerably reduced if you figure in how much they are spending for gas, additional meals, shelter and other expenses to drive all over the East Coast for "free" chicken. Obviously they're not doing it to save money.
Heart attack in the making
Clogged arteries from a Chick-Fill-A. No thanks!
Now I Got A Laugh too!
So it's feasible to make $54k a year, by sitting around waiting for chicken coupons? It's a slight pay cut, but, I am getting older each day, & am now considering this as a viable career change. I'm surprised the line isn't a bunch of bums, who wouldn't have spent one cent at the Restaurant.. Has to be better chow than soup kitchens, and they probably would just spend the time panhandling at a Tiny Giant, or staring vacantly at something, possibly that only they can see, at a public park..lol
Math
$26 an hour?? Doing nothing for 12 hours in return you get a $6 dollar meal. Using my math that equates to 50 cents an hour, but you can go ahead and quit your job and go to all the Chick-Fil-A openings you want.
Campers
Is there nothin better you could do with your time? Maybe do something that benefits your fellow citizens? This whole situation is silly and not what I expected from "adults".
There are worse things to do for $26/hr
52 meals worth maybe $6 apiece earned by doing nothing for about 12 hours. Works out to $26/hr, or if you could make a full-time career of it, a salary of $54k. Well above the national average, not bad at all for retirement income, and it would certainly beat being a greeter at Wal-Mart.
carrie
Glad I could help. My work is done - going home now.
I really needed a laugh..
and your comment gave it to me this morning. Thank you :-)
Ummmm...
When I retire I think I might find a better hobby than CAMPING OUT for free chicken. I don't know...maybe take the grandkids to Disney, read/write a book or two, travel. Pilfering yardbird ain't gonna be high on my priority list.
But then again - whatever floats your boat.
Are you serious?!?!?!
I guess you had to be there.
Seriously?
I thought April Fools was last week.