Over three years ago, Georgia-based fast food chain Chick-Fil-A became the subject of national controversy after the company's CEO, Dan Cathy, publicly opposed same-sex marriage, which then led to further scandal after it came out the chain funded organizations considered anti-gay - now, the fried chicken restaurant reaches the Big Apple, will Chick-Fil-A New York succeed?
In 2012, there was a huge wave calling for boycott in the chain after Cathy condemned same-sex marriage, and as it enters one of the most liberal cities in the country months after the national approval of gay marriage, Chick-Fil-A New York gives it a shot.
According to The New York Times, it might be rough for Chick-Fil-A's New York venture, in a time where fast-food restaurants are generally struggling across the country and particularly in New York City, which is one of the toughest markets in America.
The company certainly has high hopes for Chick-Fil-A New York as well as its other more recent ventures, as they've publicly said they expect to post sale-store sales growth in the double digits this year in stores over one year old - this would be fairly interesting, as in 2014 they grew 8 percent on that same standard, doubling the same-store sales of their major competitor, KFC.
As Eater reports, there will be one thing different on Chick-Fil-A New York: free food!
The official opening of the company's first restaurant in the Big Apple, located at West 37th Street and 6th in Manhattan, will be next Saturday, and Chick-Fil-A has announced that the first 100 adult customers in line for the grand launch will be given free food for a year at the restaurant, which will be the biggest one in the nation so far.
According to Jezebel, the truly odd thing about this promo (besides the one year of free meals part) is that people eligible can only live in a certain zip code range, as it's for New Yorkers only.
Don't forget to visit the Chick-Fil-A in New York starting this weekend!
