UPDATE: A Mini Tent City Is Sprouting in the Parking Lot as Residents Waiting for the Opening of Enfield's Chick-fil-A

Updated: 4:30 p.m., Feb. 25:

By mid-afternoon, 31 people have set up camp outside the Chick-fil-A restaurant on Hazard Avenue, according to a company spokesman.

Check out the mini-tent city that’s sprouting in the parking lot.

Original story: 9:11 a.m. Feb. 25

In anticipation of the opening of the Chick-fil-A restaurant on Hazard Avenue, Enfield residents already are lining up.

The restaurant is scheduled to open at 6 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 26 and in keeping with tradition, Chick-fil-A aficionados begin queueing up outside 24 hours in advance in hopes of being one of the first 100 people in line to be awarded free Chick-fil-A meals for a year.

“We had 11 people show up at 6 a.m. which means there are still 89 spots left to fill. We will continue registering people until we reach our 100th person,” said Chick-fil-A spokesman Tiffany Simmons.

A digital offer card loaded with a one-year supply of free Chick-fil-A Meals will be given to each of the first 100 eligible adults, ages 18 and older with identification, in line when the doors open about 6 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26.

When Chick-Fil-A opened in Brookfield last fall, people camped out for days in the rain, hoping to score one of those free-for-a-year bonuses.

Also on Wednesday, the restaurant began its book drive collecting new books that will be donated to Head Start of Enfield. Books can be dropped off at the new restaurant Wednesday until close on Thursday.

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Related stories:

• Enfield Head Start to Benefit from Chick-fil-A Opening
• Ready for Your Chick-fil-A Enfield?
• Chicken Lovers Brave the Rain for Brookfield Chick-fil-A “First 100” Giveaway

Contributed photos: The line forming at the new Enfield Chick-fil-A on Hazard Avenue on Feb. 25.