Chick-fil-A Coming To Town Soon, Sparking Controversy

Chick-fil-A Coming To Town Soon, Sparking Controversy

By Yasmin Nair, Windy City Times

The Chick-fil-A sandwich franchise is planning to open its doors in late April on the intersection of Wabash and Chicago, in the heart of Chicago's downtown. Founded by S. Truett Cathy in the 1960s, the chain is especially popular in the South but has enough of a reputation and devoted fans that the Chicago opening is bound to attract crowds.

However, recent news and controversies regarding its Christian background and allegations about its negative attitudes towards homosexuality may prove to be a stumbling block. Given all the many stories that have been circulating, a closer examination of the facts reveals some truths that appear to have been ignored thus far and also throws light on the task ahead if the Chicago gay community does in fact plan either a boycott or a protest of the franchise.

Cathy's original venture was the Dwarf Grill restaurant in Hapeville, Ga., started in 1946. The first Chick-fil-A store was established in an Atlanta mall in 1967. Today, the chain runs--by most accounts, including its website--about 900 free-standing restaurants, 29 drive-through locations and 214 licensed locations in places like college campuses and hospitals.

Since the chain has yet to open in Chicago, this reporter was unable to procure a sample for research purposes, but this website description of their basic sandwich is sufficiently detailed: "A boneless breast of chicken seasoned to perfection, hand-breaded, pressure cooked in 100% refined peanut oil and served on a toasted, buttered bun with dill pickle chips." The sandwich is also available on a "Golden Wheat bun."

Read the whole story here.

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