By Julia Burke and Ally Slocum

On September 24,  at least one hundred people camped out at Westborough’s new Chick Fil-A restaurant parking lot on route 9 for the grand opening. The first one hundred adult customers won free food at the restaurant for the next year as a part of the signature opening event. After ten years, more than $21.5 million worth of free food has been donated (www.patch.com “Chick Fil-A Coming To Westborough”).  At 6am, twenty four hours prior to the opening on September 25, the event was a “community party” with restrooms and entertainment provided. With the opening, Westborough Chick Fil-A operator Mike Lawson collected books to serve in a free library exchange.

Westborough residents have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of the new Chick Fil-A since July 15, 2014, when the construction of the restaurant began. Special features of the Westborough location include two drive-thrus, a playground, free wifi, the ability to order online, and the acceptance of CFA (Chick Fil-A) Cards. The new location has brought more than eighty jobs to Westborough.

The Chick Fil-A chain was started in 1946 by Truett Cathy in Hapeville, GA. The chain has had major success, and by 2013, had 1,800 locations in 40 states and system-wide sales had reached $5 billion (www.chick-fil-a.com).

With a wide menu, Chick Fil-A offers a variety of chicken, such as sandwiches, nuggets, and tenders. They also offer wraps and salads. Their sides include chicken soup, coleslaw, potato or waffle fries, breakfast biscuits, milkshakes, and ice cream. Some popular favorites include the milkshakes, spicy chicken sandwich, and the nuggets. “The milkshakes are addicting,” WHS student Olivia Arnold claims.

Westborough is going crazy for Chick Fil-A. High school students are using twitter, yik yak, and other social media to share their opinions. Posts such as “If you haven’t been to Chick Fil-A yet, you’re doing it wrong,” and “Thank God for Chick Fil-A” have filled people’s newsfeeds. Families and adults are also frequent customers, as well as residents of bordering towns.

Chick Fil-A has a sense of hospitality that makes customers want to come back for more. “It feels southern and smells like chicken,” says WHS sophomore Olivia Natale. Dana Goldy, also a sophomore, adds “It’s very well-organized and tasty; it doesn’t feel like a new restaurant. It’s run as if its been open for months now!”