Crowds pack local Chick-fil-A for 'Appreciation Day'

photo Maria Jordan, 18, works at Chick-fil-a on Gunbarrel Road in this file photo.

By 11 a.m. today, the line of people trying to get into the Chick-fil-A at Gunbarrel Road was already snaking out the door.

Workers' voices could barely be heard above the chatter of people that turned out for Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day -a day created by former presidential candidate and TV show host Mike Huckabee to show support for the restaurant after Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy made comments supporting traditional marriage, saying "I think we are 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.'"

On Gunbarrel, cars in line for the drive-through window wrapped around the building, blocking traffic on the street next to the restaurant.

Linda Summers, 55, from Dayton, Tenn., said she had seen a similar scene at other Chick-fil-A restaurants in the area.

"We passed the one at Northgate Mall early this morning and it was packed out," she said as she waited in line. "It was like 7 a.m., and it was already like this."

Many customers said they came to the restaurant today especially to show their support of Cathy, offering calls of "Good for you" to fellow customers as they waited in line.

"We're anti-boycotting," said Ellyn Gardner, 31, who was at the restaurant with her mother, husband and son. "He has an opinion and he gave it."

For complete details, see tomorrow's Times Free Press.

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