Chick-Fil-A is Here!

One of the things I missed most since moving out of Indianapolis two years ago was a "quick serve" restaurant.

Does that make me even more shallow than I suspect I am already?

Maybe.  If it is, so be it.  Chick-Fil-A is now open in Madison and a small part of my world is complete!

Just a bit of an overstatement, don't you think?

It's a restaurant with its own culture.  Some of what defines it has created some controversy, but more about that later.  This culture I'm talking about first is what customers notice when they walk inside.

Lots of phrases are heard over and over inside a Chick-Fil-A: please, thank you, absolutely, and my pleasure.

You also encounter a lot of smiles and offers of help that I've not experienced at most of the rest of the fast food venues I've visited.

In last night's visit - as I tried to gather my to go order the helpful young lady who delivered it offered to help carry it to the car.

At the Chick-Fil-A I enjoyed near our home in Indianapolis, I recall watching employees escort guests to and from their cars with umbrellas to keep them out of the rain!

The chain started in Georgia in 1946 and has slowly franchised its way north and west. 

They don't claim to have invented the chicken, just the chicken sandwich.  And it's mighty good, too!  Hot, on a bun with a pickle or two and it's a lunch all by itself.

It surprised me when I tried one of their Chicken Biscuits as a breakfast sandwich and that it actually tasted better than the sausage biscuits I was used to relying on for a fast breakfast on the run.

Another part of the Chick-Fil-A culture is closing on Sundays.  It's a break for their employees so they can rest and spend time with their families and attend worship if they choose. 

The leaders of Chick-Fil-A made a stand a few years ago in favor of legal marriage as one with a man and a woman.  That's a volatile issue with strong feelings on both sides and courts issuing differing opinions.  As a store itself, it says it does not and will not discriminate and the views are personal.

Of course, part of the freedom we enjoy in this country is being able to disagree with each other on some issues while agreeing on others.

In my experience, Chick-Fil-A is a good partner to non-profits in the community.  It helped Lutheran High School of Indianapolis many times with spirit nights and athletic promotions. 

The store is a success.  Even with fewer stores than Kentucky Fried Chicken, they now sell more chicken than KFC.

Try the sandwich and decide if it's as good as I'm suggesting... maybe that's something we can all agree on.