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Chick-Fil-A Camp
updated: Feb 06, 2013, 9:33 AM

By Edhat Subscriber

Anyone know why people are camped out in front of the new Chick-Fil-A? I drove past this morning and saw at least 3 tents and groups of campers in the parking lot.

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Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 371335	2013-02-06 09:36 AM
Hungry for chick'n. Only place that serves it.
COMMENT 371337P	2013-02-06 09:37 AM
It's supposed to open tomorrow. There a probably starting a protest due to Chick-fil-a's views.
COMMENT 371339P	2013-02-06 09:38 AM
The first 100 customers can win a year's free Chick Fil'A meals. I wish they weren't such a politically active company. I love their chicken nuggets but dislike their views.
COMMENT 371340	2013-02-06 09:39 AM
Free chick'n for a year (1 meal per week) for 1st 100 customers, confirmed brahs! Chick fil-A is awesome as far as fast food goes, glad to see them here in SB.
COMMENT 371341	2013-02-06 09:41 AM
Do you like Big Oil's views..... Still drive a car, heat your house?
COMMENT 371342	2013-02-06 09:42 AM
Politically active company? The owner made one comment on his views regarding gay marriage and that makes the whole company activists?
COMMENT 371344	2013-02-06 09:42 AM
I surprised the city would allow them to set up camp like that.
COMMENT 371345	2013-02-06 09:44 AM
Haha wow, camping. And honestly, it's not the companies views people. It's the CEO. But he doesn't enstill his "views" into the chicken sandwiches. Freedom of speech, and just because you don't agree with a person, doesn't mean the place he works for is lumped into the fray Best quote from a few months ago, " the only sign I'm waiting to see, is the open sign"
COMMENT 371346	2013-02-06 09:44 AM
KEYT should be showing up sometime today. This almost counts as news.
COMMENT 371347	2013-02-06 09:45 AM
These are new employees which came from out of state as it was too hard for chick fil-a to find homophobic baptists locally.
COMMENT 371348	2013-02-06 09:46 AM
The CEO is an old man - hopefully his antiquated ideas will disappear soon.
COMMENT 371350P	2013-02-06 09:48 AM
One comment, 342? You need to dig a bit deeper... They were giving out free iced tea to tea party members. The corporation financially supported anti-gay marriage legislation and there are plenty of other examples. I don't care what the Cathy family does in their personal lives but speaking through your corporation is bound to alienate half your customer base.
COMMENT 371353	2013-02-06 09:53 AM
Here are the details of the First 100 event going on today. Tomorrow is the Grand Opening. http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Locations/First-100-Details
COMMENT 371354	2013-02-06 09:54 AM
I'd like to support them, but they fund hate by donating millions of dollars to anti gay groups.
COMMENT 371356	2013-02-06 09:58 AM
RichyRich I could have filled those requirements! To bad i am a banker...
COMMENT 371357	2013-02-06 09:59 AM
It's ok to hate a group of people who hate? What else are we allowed to hate people for or is there a list of what makes it politically correct to hate someone for?
COMMENT 371359P	2013-02-06 09:59 AM
Man, you'd really have to hate something a LOT to spend millions of dollars against it!
COMMENT 371360	2013-02-06 10:00 AM
whatever happened to Bonanza on upper state? I wish it was still around. They had a great salad bar. I hope t Chick's food is better than Panera Bread - which tastes like wood.
REXOFSB	2013-02-06 10:09 AM
I don't feel hate for the chicken bigots who pour millions into fighting gay marriage, I feel shame and disgust that this kind of sentiment still exists. I understand that their chicken is actually quite nice, however I won't be trying any anytime soon. I won't contribute a nickel to this evil company.
COMMENT 371366	2013-02-06 10:19 AM
I wish I was there!!! I miss their food :(
COMMENT 371368P	2013-02-06 10:27 AM
An interesting update to the story... Dan and Me: My Coming Out as a Friend of Dan Cathy and Chick-fil-A http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shane-l-windmeyer/dan-cathy-chick-fil-a_b_2564379.html
COMMENT 371373	2013-02-06 10:37 AM
Nail on the head, 357. Nail on the head.
COMMENT 371379	2013-02-06 10:47 AM
I loved Chick-Fil-A in the past and would drive an hour to eat it in Oxnard regularly. It pains me that now it is so close but I am unwilling to eat there due to recent events :( You don't have to hate Chick-Fil-A just don't support them if you are a friend of reason.
COMMENT 371397	2013-02-06 11:06 AM
These people are camping for a free ticket to clogged arteries and obesity (and I'm sure some of them already have these issues). I will never eat there for my personal health and equality for my gay friends.
DANOO7	2013-02-06 11:28 AM
It's up to about 25 tents right now and looking quite festive.
ROGER DODGER	2013-02-06 11:36 AM
I do not support their views and will not purchase food from their restraunts..But if I was starving and homeless and they offered a free meal I would not turn it down.
COMMENT 371428P	2013-02-06 12:01 PM
It looks like the few folks from Santa Barbara that don't like the CEO's views flopped in their boycott. It is great to see this American success story is finally opening a store here along with all of the jobs at the restaurant and jobs at the local companies that will be providing supplies. You will be able to enjoy the restaurant Monday through Saturday. The company gives their employees Sunday off to go to church and spend time with their families. Whether you agree with the CEO or not, who could not appreciate a company that not only talks the talk but walks the walk as far as family values are concerned?
COMMENT 371432P	2013-02-06 12:06 PM
428P - I'm pretty sure there's more than a "few" people in SB that oppose his views. It's more likely that the handful of SB residents that don't mind homophobic, bible thumping CEOs are the ones showing up in tents.
COMMENT 371434P	2013-02-06 12:09 PM
This is obviously getting off-topic into a political debate so hopefully the nanny will be lenient with me respectfully disagreeing with 428P. "Family values" is a term that's generally used against gay people. ie, "gay marriage goes against family values," etc. As do a number of religious organizations and companies. So I'd have to disagree with you as I do not appreciate it.
COMMENT 371439P	2013-02-06 12:16 PM
Am wondering if those who remodeled the building were from this area or from out of town. Does anyone know?
COMMENT 371442P	2013-02-06 12:18 PM
434P, you can certainly disagree with my opinion. I have absolutely no problem with you disagreeing with my opinion. Our citizens have varying opinions and we all enjoy the right to express them without government interference according to our Constitution. This is why our local board members were sanctioned when they tried to stop the restaurant as they are part of the government.
COMMENT 371443P	2013-02-06 12:19 PM
The politics of a business owner provides an interesting question - there are other local businesses known for their political views - do we patronize them?
AUNTIE S.	2013-02-06 12:47 PM
Well said, 1357.
SHOREBIRD	2013-02-06 01:04 PM
-379 friend of reason here. Will avoid them as well. As will the dozens of my family members and friends
SQUIRREL FRIEND	2013-02-06 01:13 PM
Hey, Hey, Hey!! It's Chick-fil-A!! We're going to be there with bells on. They being in Santa Barbara is just beautiful. I love it. No more waiting for the next service appointment at the auto dealership in Oxnard to have it. We've supported local eateries daily for years. We dine out, we pick up and bring it work/home or get it delivered. I'm only too happy to include Chick-fil-A to the roster. Welcome to Santa Barbara, Chick-fil-A!
KIDS	2013-02-06 01:38 PM
It's simple....we are all free to go there, or free to stay away.
COMMENT 371478	2013-02-06 01:46 PM
This is less of a story about gay people than it is about how religion drags humanity down, not up.
COMMENT 371484P	2013-02-06 02:04 PM
OK, So where do we park if the tents are taking up all the spaces???
GEEZERSGIRL	2013-02-06 02:10 PM
After taking much public heat for their funding of anti-gay organizations Chik-Fil-A backed off and no longer funds them. This is old news from last September.
JOJOFLYS	2013-02-06 02:37 PM
The statement that Chik-fil-A stopped funding anti-gay organizations was made by someone not affiliated with Chik-fil-A and was incorrect. Scroll down to the Sept 20 press release posted on Chik-fil-A's website.
NATURE BOY	2013-02-06 04:48 PM
484P: The tents won't be up when the restaurant opens, of course.
NATURE BOY	2013-02-06 04:53 PM
357: Who said hate? We choose not to patronize their company. I doubt people are hating. If so, they are a very small minority. Most anti-Chik people simply choose not to add to the profit of a company whose CEO's beliefs they don't agree with. Nobody is saying they shouldn't have such free speech. It's like not voting for a politician whose beliefs you disagree with. That's a concrete cold fact.
SQUIRREL FRIEND	2013-02-06 05:20 PM
NATURE BOY, you missed the comment that was removed entirely. There are still comments with words like, "bigot" and references to religion, remaining. There are ways of expressing a point without the use of shaming tactics. Those that don't take issue with Dan Cathy are called haters by those that actually use hateful terms when commenting. My response to the hate in this community is to boycott the local shops and any organizations that I know for a fact take part or have a connection to this nonsense. That includes their volunteers or employees. I think it's referred to as "Turnabout is Fair Play" or something. I don't shout others down. I spend my money elsewhere.
COMMENT 371689P	2013-02-07 12:22 AM
RICHYRICH AND REXOFSB: Thank you for speaking out sensibly and eloquently. No one in my family will be frequenting this business. One thing I love about SB: it is still very small town, in that word gets around fast. The word(s) being "Spend your money elsewhere."
COMMENT 371712P	2013-02-07 07:21 AM
Good marketing gimmick. Kindve reminds me of Apple releasing a new "i-whatever"... As far as the politics of it....much ado about nothing. I think if the restaurant is successful here in SB, that will tell me all I need to know about how resolute the majority of SB views on gay marriage are....well, that and the last few statewide votes on the issue. Personally, I have nothing against gay marriage, and am not threatened by it. My father had some pretty harsh views on black people, I did not. Still sat down with him for dinner every night, no problem.
UPONTHEHILL	2013-02-07 07:38 AM
We will not be patronizing their business.
COMMENT 371751P	2013-02-07 08:28 AM
So has Chik-fil-a opened its bathrooms for these campers...and provided janitors? Just wonderin' ? No permit needed to have campers on your property in this permit-happy city?
SBVOICE	2013-02-07 08:30 AM
According to interviews with participants, these tents primarily house people from Palmdale, LA, Covina, Azusa, Malibu, and a myriad of places other than SB. While this may provide initial publicity for Chick-Fil-A, there are no paying customers here -- these are people from other communities looking for a hand out. Ultimately the residents of Santa Barbara must speak with their wallets.
COMMENT 371770P	2013-02-07 09:02 AM
I just drove by this morning and it is pretty quiet in the parking lot. Not what you'd expect for a grand opening.

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