Drive-thru Lines Long in Atlanta for ‘Support Chick-Fil-A Day’
The debate over Chick-Fil-A CEO Dan Cathy’s public comments against gay marriage took to the drive-thru Wednesday.
The unsanctioned, unofficial “Support Chick-Fil-A Day” seemed to have a lot of backers in Metro Atlanta.
Roger Jones of Newnan said both of that town’s Chick-Fil-A stores were packed. Someone posted a video to YouTube of a busy Douglasville location.
At the Chick-Fil-A on the corner of Piedmont and Sidney Marcus in Buckhead, the drive-thru line was backed up into the street.
Olga Rodila skiped the line, parked across the street, and walked over. She said although she agrees with the company’s stance on gay marriage, she came out to support a “bigger” issue.
“It’s really not about the anti-gay. I have a lot of gay friends and I love them. It’s really about freedom of speech. That’s why we all moved to this country, to be able to say what we want to say and have our opinions. And everybody should be able to respect that.”
Suzie Cohen also made a special trip.
“It’s his choice. And if you don’t like how Mr. Cathy feels, then don’t buy from him. But I think a lot of people feel you can say what you want in America and be a good businessman too.”
And Angela McCray said she turned out because Cathy’s belief on gay marriage mirrors hers.
“I was actually going to eat somewhere else today, but decided to come here instead.”
But not everyone picking up lunch at this location supported Chick-Fil-A’s anti-gay marriage stance.
“Certain things that are personal should be kept personal,” said Melvin Washington. “You have a business to run. I don’t think it was wise for your business.”
Shea Jones said from his car that he wasn’t aware of the unsanctioned “Support Chick-Fil-A Day.”
“I stay right around the corner, so I always come here,” he said.
And one woman who didn’t want to give her name turned around and left when she found out why all the extra cars were here.
“I’m really not going to stay,” she said, as she put her car into reverse. “I don’t support Chick-Fil-A.”
At least on this day, Cathy’s public stance on gay marriage seemed to help business, not hurt it.
A Chick-Fil-A spokeswoman says the company doesn’t comment on sales figures. But at the drive-through window of the Piedmont Road store, what appeared to be a manager smiled at a cashier and said “We broke a record.”
Meanwhile, gay marriage supporters have planned events all over the US on Friday, including a kiss-in.
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