People camping out for the opening of the restaurant!
MyNorthwest.com: There’s a new chicken sandwich in town. Chick-fil-A is set to open Thursday at 785 116th Ave. NE, Bellevue at 6 a.m. “It’s a beautiful restaurant right here in Bellevue,” said spokesperson Mandy Goepp.
Chick-fil-A will employ at least 80 people, Goepp said. Applications are still being accepted. On Tuesday, corporate trainers were in Bellevue helping prepare for the grand opening.
The building is LEED certified, with energy efficiency and water conservation, Goepp said. The second location opens at 3902 South Steele Street, Tacoma on April 16. A Lynnwood location is set to open in May; according to Chick-fil-A’s website, the restaurant opens May 7.
The restaurant’s operator, Valerie Artis, began considering opening a location since first “falling in love with the brand” about 12 years ago, according to a bio on Chick-fil-A’s website. Prior to the restaurant, Artis spent 20 years as a marketing professional in the restaurant industry.
“My husband and I spoke of moving to the region, and we specifically targeted Bellevue,” Artis said. “I think it’s one of the best-kept secrets in this country and I love the culture and community here.”
The fast food restaurant is no stranger to controversy. Three years ago, Dan Cathy, the president of Chick-fil-A said:
“I think we’re inviting God’s judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at Him and say we know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage. And I pray God’s mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude, to think that we would [have] the audacity to try to redefine what marriage is all about.”
Cathy’s statement prompted a series of boycotts at Chick-fil-A restaurants across the country (yeah, how did that work out?).
The first 100 customers to the new Bellevue location will receive one free meal per week for a year. The restaurant opens at 6 a.m.
DCG
