Customers camp out for Chick-fil-A opening

Customers seeking free chicken camped out as early as 24 hours ahead of time for the opening of Springfield’s second stand-alone Chick-fil-A restaurant.

Spokeswoman Cindi Pickett, who flew in from the company’s corporate headquarters in Atlanta to help with the event, said the line was capped at 110 people. Customers set up tents as they waited for the restaurant to launch.

The first 100, who entered the 425 W. Sunshine St. restaurant when it opened today at 6:30 a.m., received a voucher for one free meal a week for the next year. The meal vouchers equate to some $32,000 in food, according to a news release.

Franchisee Brian Heberlie moved to Springfield from Baltimore to open the restaurant, which is the fourth Chick-fil-A in the Queen City. Heberlie, who most recently worked in information technology for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, is a retired U.S. Air Force officer.

Frankfort, Ill.-based Prairie Contractors Inc. served as general contractor for the roughly $478,000 project, which was designed by Brentwood, Tenn.-based E and H Architects PC. The spot formerly housed Rib Crib and Bud’s Custom Muffler Shop buildings.

The Chick-fil-A across from Bass Pro Shops at Sunshine Street and Campbell Avenue is one of 116 expected to open this year. The fast-food chain counts around 1,950 restaurants in 42 states.