Connecticut's First Chick-fil-A To Open In Brookfield

Chick-fil-A will open in Brookfield next week, marking the first location of the Atlanta-based chicken restaurant chain in the Nutmeg State.

The restaurant at 156 Federal Road opens to the public Oct. 9 at 6:30 a.m., but welcomes fans to get in early for the chance to earn a one-year's supply of free Chick-fil-A food (adigital offer card loaded with 52 free meals.)The first 100 adults (18 and over) in line will be eligible for this offer; the line will officially open at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 8 and guests will be registered. Guests are then required to stay in line on site until the Thursday morning opening.

The "First 100" promotion is only open to guests who live within roughly a 25-mile radius of the Brookfield restaurant. Eligible residency zip codes, and other rules and regulations, are posted on Chick-fil-A's website.Chick-fil-A will provide security, entertainment, games, food and bathrooms during the 24-hour period, according to a news release, and guests are encouraged to bring tents, chairs, TVs, computers and other gear.

Three other Chick-fil-A franchises are planned for the state. A location at 1098 N. Colony Road in Wallingford is scheduled to open Nov. 6, according to its official website. Chick-fil-A will also join the food court at the Danbury Fair Mall, and that's also projected for a Nov. 6 opening, said Melissa Eigen, the mall's marketing manager.

In Enfield, the town's planning and zoning commission confirmed that a planned Chick-fil-A restaurant is currently under construction at 25 Hazard Avenue, in the Enfield Commons shopping plaza. No official opening date is projected as of this time, said department secretary Barbra Galovich, but a Chick-fil-A representative said the Enfield restaurant is expected to open within the first quarter of 2015.

Founded by Southern Baptist Truett Cathy, the privately-held company closes all of its locations on Sundays. "This policy allows employees a day for family, worship, fellowship or rest, and also underscores Cathy's desire to put principles and people ahead of profit," according to the restaurant's official website.

Chick-fil-A's religious beliefs have been the focus of controversy in recent years; in 2012, president and CEO Dan Cathy said publicly that the company "was supportive of the family - the biblical definition of the family unit." The restaurant chain was also criticized for its foundation's donations to anti-gay marriage groups. In response to the outcry, the company stated, "Going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena."

Officials in Brookfield say they haven't encountered any opposition to Chick-fil-A's presence in town. "I think most people are excited about it," said assistant zoning enforcement officer Francis Lollie.

First Selectman William N. Tinsley said he's happy to welcome home Chick-fil-A franchisee Devon Scanlon, who is a native of Brookfield. He said Federal Road's "highly commercialized" nature, as a regional shopping destination, bodes well for the restaurant's success. "They have done a very beautiful job with the property here," he said.

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Connecticut's First Chick-fil-A To Open In Brookfield