Business & Tech

Chick-fil-A Turns Kentlands Parking Lot Into Camp Site

More than 100 people camped out Wednesday at the new Kentlands Chick-fil-A to win free meals for a year.

A row of parking spaces at Kentlands Market Square was turned into . 

To celebrate the grand opening of Chick-fil-A, patrons from near and far lined up outside the at 6 a.m. to secure a chance to from the restaurant. 

One hundred winners were selected with only one catch: they were required to camp out at the location from 6 a.m. Wednesday to 6 a.m. Thursday to cash in their prize.

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The result was a small tent city, housing the 100-plus people until Thursday morning.

“It kind of looks like Occupy Chick-fil-A,” Steve Olson said.

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Olson, 35, made the 2.5-hour, 170-mile trip down from Somerset, Pa. with his parents, Chuck and Marge, and his brother, Andrew. 

While it was Steve’s first Chick-fil-A campout, his parents were veterans of seven (Chuck) and five (Marge). 

“I’m not really sure what to expect because this is my first time,” Steve said. “[My family] said there’s a lot of fun and games and it’s interesting to be at one of these openings… I’m questioning the sanity of a lot of people to come out in 30-degree weather and camp in tents overnight.” 

The Olson family brought two tents, sleeping bags, blankets, blow up mattresses, snacks, and a game called corn hole to help make them feel at home while camped out at Kentlands Market Square.

Another family made the trip north from Virginia Beach with three generations in tow. 

Louise Pearson, 73, said she came with her husband, daughter and grandson to participate in the Chick-fil-A grand opening. 

Pearson, who is participating in her fifth campout, said each event is slightly different, but was relieved that the parking lot setting wouldn’t provide a repeat from another Chick-fil-A campout. 

“In Crystal City it was in a park and in the middle of the night the sprinkler system went off and it even came up under our tent,” she said. 

But not everyone comes in groups. Steven Martino, of Frederick, Md., drove down by himself, bringing only a lawn chair, three bags, a cooler and an umbrella, he said.

“It’s my third time [at a Chick-fil-A opening],” Martino said. “I really wanted to go out here just to see if I could do the camping aspect and the free food is a bonus. Meeting nice people is great, too... The nice ladies here are allowing me to stay at their tent. So the community is great.”

The allure of camping is something that draws in a lot of the grand opening patrons, according to Chick-fil-A spokeswoman Christine Wier.

“This is camping but we feed you, we entertain you, we have a DJ and we have bathrooms,” Wier said. "So people are like, ‘Why do people do [camp out at Chick-fil-A]?’ and I’m like, ‘It’s the best camping ever!’” 

In addition to the 100 grand prize winners, Chick-fil-A allows guests to register and campout with their friends and family in case not everyone in a group is selected, Wier said.

Throughout the day, Wier said, the restaurant feeds the campers and gives away t-shirts and other items and sponsors games including a scavenger hunt and four square.


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