Chick-Fil-A invites customers to visit for National Sandwich Day (on a Sunday)

[MrsPete]

Ehh, I don't expect people to agree with me, but the message would be fine without ever mentioning "go to church." As someone who worked a retail job and managed to also go to church, it just is kinda weird, to me, that they have to mention it unless the purpose is to draw attention to it. Either way, they mention church a lot for a chicken place, which was my illustration for why I am not super into them.

It does anticipate /answer the question, "Why can't people spend time with their families on Tuesdays?"
I don't think CFA mentions church nearly as much as their detractors do while criticizing them. Seriously, go into one of their stores and search for mentions of church. I'm pretty sure the single sign about not being open on Sundays is the only mention.

 

[skyblue17]

It does anticipate /answer the question, "Why can't people spend time with their families on Tuesdays?"
I don't think CFA mentions church nearly as much as their detractors do while criticizing them. Seriously, go into one of their stores and search for mentions of church. I'm pretty sure the single sign about not being open on Sundays is the only mention.

And yet, I think most people would assume why they are closed on Sunday without them mentioning it. Imagine if they were like "we are closed on Sundays so our employees can go down to the casino and gamble and drink $1 Bud Lights without having to work around a six hour weekend shift." Why does anyone need to know the reason they are closed except the point is to make sure people know the reason?

Either way, this particular thing wouldn't be a dealbreaker for me if I found their food in any way satisfying.

 

[ChrisFL]

Interesting to note that CFA was about to open their first location in the UK, but due to severe backlash, they already closed it (or it never actually opened).

It comes down to this: recent donations to one of the Christian groups that was also involved in donating in support of some very extreme measures against LGBT people in parts of Africa. I don't have all of the details, but people are connecting the dots.

 

[L&Lfan]

Reading (UK) Pride says Chick-fil-A is not welcome ANYWHERE in the UK. Chick-fil-A says the store will close by spring 2020.

 

[ChrisFL]

Reading (UK) Pride says Chick-fil-A is not welcome ANYWHERE in the UK. Chick-fil-A says the store will close by spring 2020.

oops, I stand corrected.

 

[luvsJack]

And yet, I think most people would assume why they are closed on Sunday without them mentioning it. Imagine if they were like "we are closed on Sundays so our employees can go down to the casino and gamble and drink $1 Bud Lights without having to work around a six hour weekend shift." Why does anyone need to know the reason they are closed except the point is to make sure people know the reason?

Either way, this particular thing wouldn't be a dealbreaker for me if I found their food in any way satisfying.

So them saying “so their employees can go to church if they choose...” is your whole issue with them? Seriously?

Hobby lobby has a sign on their door that says the exact same thing.

If you worked in retail and were able to attend church services on Sunday, you were lucky indeed. And has been said, there is way more to having that day off than just going to church.

 

[skyblue17]

So them saying “so their employees can go to church if they choose...” is your whole issue with them? Seriously?

Hobby lobby has a sign on their door that says the exact same thing.

If you worked in retail and were able to attend church services on Sunday, you were lucky indeed. And has been said, there is way more to having that day off than just going to church.

No, it's part of my issue. The other public issues that have been discussed in this thread are way more of why. Also, the food is gross.

I also don't go to Hobby Lobby! And I agree there's more to having a day off than going to church, which is why I think it's weird they mention it!

 

[luvsJack]

No, it's part of my issue. The other public issues that have been discussed in this thread are way more of why. Also, the food is gross.

I also don't go to Hobby Lobby! And I agree there's more to having a day off than going to church, which is why I think it's weird they mention it!

I don’t find it “weird” at all. Perhaps an unnecessary explanation, but not weird.

Their food is gross in your opinion. Keep forgetting that part. And that is fine. Everyone has their own tastes and likes and dislikes.

Judging the taste of food by someone’s ideology is something that I find weird, though, I must say.

 

[skyblue17]

It's all my opinion!

Also, the food has nothing to do with the ideology. I had eaten there a few times before I had any idea about their other activities and I simply was not impressed and was wondering if I was missing something, but I have been to four different locations in three different states, so, it's simply not for me.

 

[karen4546]

I like CFA. Their customer service is top notch. In my town, breakfast has lines out to the street-TWO LINES ! They move quickly and 99% of the time get the order right. I also like their app. You can earn points to redeem for rewards and they often send you rewards. I have gotten the mac & cheese, 30 ct nuggets, 6 pack of cookies, numerous sandwiches and drinks. For a Chicken sandwich- I will got to CFA most of the time.

 

[ronandannette]

If a company donates to/supports causes I disagree with, then I try my best to not patronize them. I would never dream to get them closed, banned or try to destroy their businesses. I let the marketplace decide...

Amen!! (see what I did? )

And yet, I think most people would assume why they are closed on Sunday without them mentioning it. Imagine if they were like "we are closed on Sundays so our employees can go down to the casino and gamble and drink $1 Bud Lights without having to work around a six hour weekend shift." Why does anyone need to know the reason they are closed except the point is to make sure people know the reason?

Either way, this particular thing wouldn't be a dealbreaker for me if I found their food in any way satisfying.

Here's the thing though - every company everywhere uses whatever it thinks will work to attract more business. If being open about their worldview gains them more sales than it loses, why on earth wouldn't they? Many companies eagerly identify themselves as LGBTQ+ allies; why shouldn't they? It's a marketing tool as much as anything else and for those companies, it gains more business than it loses. LGBTQ+ boycotts of Chik-Fil-A do not hurt their business any more than the Baptist's boycott of Disney hurt theirs. I imagine both corporate entities would re-think their strategies if the bottom line was significantly threatened.

Reading (UK) Pride says Chick-fil-A is not welcome ANYWHERE in the UK. Chick-fil-A says the store will close by spring 2020.

Is there any other information on this? I'm curious to know if the business failed or if they decided to close just because Pride declared them unwelcome?

 

[L&Lfan]

Just google Chick-fil-A and UK! Sad!

 

[dish rag]

No, it's part of my issue. The other public issues that have been discussed in this thread are way more of why. Also, the food is gross.

I also don't go to Hobby Lobby! And I agree there's more to having a day off than going to church, which is why I think it's weird they mention it!

The food might be "gross" to you. But it's not "gross" as you say by evidence of their sales and growth.

 

[bcla]

Is there any other information on this? I'm curious to know if the business failed or if they decided to close just because Pride declared them unwelcome?

Corporate claims that it was always the plan that this location would be temporary as a pilot project. It just opened last month, but will remain open for six months. The landlord says that they won’t renew the lease beyond the initial six month period. Sounds like a lot of spin from all parties involved.

 

[skyblue17]

The food might be "gross" to you. But it's not "gross" as you say by evidence of their sales and growth.

Right, in my opinion, the food tastes gross. Did I somehow make it sound like I was speaking for everyone?

 

[ronandannette]

Corporate claims that it was always the plan that this location would be temporary as a pilot project. It just opened last month, but will remain open for six months. The landlord says that they won’t renew the lease beyond the initial six month period. Sounds like a lot of spin from all parties involved.

Agreed. It matters not to me where these stores go, or whether they stay. I also know that the sensibilities of Europeans are slightly different from the US which are slightly different again from Canada. Personally, my instinct is purely "let the market decide" as @L&Lfan said up-thread but it wouldn't surprise me if things in the UK are slightly to the left of that, both socially and economically.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Here is a little more info about their presence in the UK - and Canada. It sounds as if the company still plans to open stores in the UK, they may just end up going in certain areas, and not others.

It's interesting to me because MA is one of the most progressive states in the U.S., yet about a dozen stores have opened here. The former mayor of Boston refused to have one in the City of Boston but recent articles make it sound like one may be going there soon.

I agree with letting the market decide.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...l-close-backlash-owners-anti-LGBT-stance.html

 

[bcla]

oops, I stand corrected.

There are a couple of official statements from the shopping center management and from CFA. CFA portrays it solely as a testbed to see how they might do in the UK. The shopping center management statement requires reading between the lines.

https://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/chick-fil-announces-plans-close-17108577​

On Friday, October 18, a spokesman for The Oracle confirmed Chick-fil-A's lease will not be extended after the pilot period.​

​

He said: "At the Oracle, we offer an inclusive space where everyone is welcome.​

​

"We always look to introduce new concepts for our customers, however, we have decided on this occasion that the right thing to do is to only allow Chick-Fil-A to trade with us for the initial six month pilot period, and not to extend the lease any further.”​

​

But a Chick-fil-A spokesperson confirmed the six month pilot was always part of its strategy to test a location in the UK.​

​

The company has previously said it has no “social or political agenda” and welcomes everyone.​

 

[L&Lfan]

Where everyone is welcome.... as long as we agree with you. What hypocrisy. Let the market decide...

 

[RamblingMad]

Agreed. It matters not to me where these stores go, or whether they stay. I also know that the sensibilities of Europeans are slightly different from the US which are slightly different again from Canada. Personally, my instinct is purely "let the market decide" as @L&Lfan said up-thread but it wouldn't surprise me if things in the UK are slightly to the left of that, both socially and economically.

No on really let’s the market decide otherwise we would never had had too big to fail.

Of course, the market has spoken concerning Sea World, and less people are visiting since Black Fish. Boycotting does work.