THE LOOP — If you love Chick-fil-A, now's the time to show it — and doing so could earn you a one-year supply of sandwiches at the State Street restaurant.
As part of the chain's ongoing "First 100" series celebrating the opening of each new location, the Georgia-based eatery will give a year's worth of free sandwiches to 100 winners on Thursday morning.
All they have to do is camp outside the new restaurant at State and Lake streets from 6 p.m. Wednesday to 6 a.m.. Thursday, when Chicago's second Chick-fil-A officially opens.
But they're using the term "camp" lightly. Since the State Street location doesn't have a parking lot that can accommodate tents, they've modified their overnight requirement to fit the busy city street. Participants are allowed to bring one folding chair, where they're expected to sit solo for 12 hours (less than the 24 hours usually required at opening events).
At 6 p.m... sharp, 100 attendees will be randomly assigned a ticket, along with 10 alternates, according to the company's website. The prize on the line is one free sandwich, medium waffle fries and a medium drink every week for a year, guaranteed with a 52 coupons naming the bearer a "First 100" winner.
Minus bathroom breaks (and any other "applicable legal requirement," according to the contest's terms), contenders for the 52-sandwich deal won't be allowed to leave the State Street corner between Wednesday and Thursday, or they'll lose their spot in line. Chick-fil-A Food and drink will be provided to campers throughout their stay, spokesman Bernard Hendrix said.
Awarding 52 free chicken sandwiches, drinks and fries to 100 people will set the company back $29,000, according to an earlier Chick-fil-A release. A similar meal off the menu at the nearby Loyola Water Tower location on Chicago Avenue costs $6.35, but includes fruit and a cookie, which aren't part of the "First 100" coupon deal.
