Customers in and around Western Prince William and Manassas flooded local Chick-fil-A restaurants with their support on Aug 1.
Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy quipped he was “guilty as charged” in supporting a marriage between a man and a woman on July 22, leading proponents of non-tradional marriages to call for a boycott of Chick-fil-A restaurants. In response, Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee called for a counter-boycott, asking people to support Chick-fil-A on Aug. 1, a day he proclaimed "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day."
Judging by the local crowds of patrons, Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day encouraged local patrons to support the franchise, and local restaurant owners said they had an unusually busy Wed.
Stephanie Swanger, who picked up an early dinner at the Bristow Chick-fil-A said she does not support the movement, but neither is she interested in boycotting the restaurant.
“I don’t agree with them (in opposing gay marriage), but everybody has an opinion. If that’s their opinion, that’s fine.”
Swanger said she frequents the restaurant for the “great customer service and a great play area for the kiddies.”
Mike Lovitt, operator of the Bristow Chick-fil-A on Route 28 in Manassas, said they were absolutely busier this Wed. He attributed the crowd to the loyalty his patrons feel towards his community-minded restaurant.
However Lovitt said his restaurant was not taking any political stance nor discriminating against any patron or employee.
“We try to treat everyone with honor, dignity and respect. I think they’ve always been a company that treats everyone, regardless of what they think or how they feel, with respect,” Lovitt said.
Brandon Thomas, Public Relations Person for Chick-fil-A Bristow agreed.
“We try not to be political. All people are welcome,” Thomas said.
Thomas alluded to Chick-fil-A Bristow's community charity work. For instance, during the month of July, they gave $.10 of every cup of lemon aid to a non-profit organization, Alex's Lemonade Stand, that raises money to cure childhood brain cancer. Overall in 2012 the Bristow franchise gave $3,000 to local charities and nonprofits and over $4,000 in food donations.
Because of their dedication to customer service, and success at five locations within the region, the Prince William Chamber of Commerce invited Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy to speak to local business owners. However, according to Thomas, Cathy decided to postpone that meeting until the controversy subsides.
While Chick-fil-A Bristow tried to downplay the political side of the Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day, some patrons were embracing Chick-fil-A’s Bible-based stance.
At the Sudley Manor Drive Chick-fil-A in Manassas, Janel Weed purposely brought her family to Chick-fil-A on Appreciation Day to support them.
“We stand behind what they believe,” said Weed. “It’s broader values too; it’s Christian values.”
Yet her 19-year-old son, Jamison, was quick to comment that he believed marriage should be between, “one man and one woman.”
The Virginia Gateway Chick-fil-A was so crowded Wed. afternoon that servers approached cars to take orders dressed in bright green construction jackets.
Jason Ward, operator of the Virginia Gateway Chick-fil-A in Gainesville, said his location was certainly busier than usual.
“We’re about serving the guests,” said Ward.
Ward did not want to comment further, but provided a prepared statement from the company:
“Going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena,” said Donald Perry, Vice President of Corporate Public Relations in the prepared statement. “The Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect – regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender."
However, this statement is not getting as much traction in the media as Dan Cathy's original proclamation on marriage.
Despite the visible support Chick-fil-A received at their local restaurants on Wed., the Human Rights Campaign is still promoting a boycott, and some local citizens have been posting their support of the boycott on Facebook.
“I never liked waffle fries anyway," posted one Bristow woman.
When a friend commented that they do not discriminate in hiring, the woman agreed but she still does not need to spend her money supporting their beliefs.
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