Annapolis Chick-fil-A's 'First 100' Do Community Service for Free Chicken

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Ahead of the opening of Annapolis' first stand-alone Chick-fil-A, there was no need for fans to camp Tuesday night in a bid to win free chicken for a year. Instead, the Chick-fil-A restaurant that opens Oct. 20 held the chain’s first grand opening First 100 Road Trip that had participants doing good deeds around the area, such as feeding the needy locally and assembling meals for Louisiana flood victims.

The restaurant picked 100 people who registered Wednesday morning and drove them around the city on buses for service activities and other events in order to earn a year's supply of Chick-fil-A meals.
The new restaurant at 2025 Somerville Road will bring 100 jobs to the area and collect donated children’s books to benefit an Annapolis elementary school. Doors open for business at 6 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 20.

At least 118 Chick-fil-A fans lined up before the 6 a.m. mark Wednesday to secure their seat on the road trip, so a drawing was held to select the First 100 guests for the day. They boarded the bus around 8:30 a.m., and spent the next six hours moving around Annapolis on chartered buses.

Stops during the road trip included:

Pip Moyer Community Center: Participants were encouraged to get up and “moove” through various physical fitness activities including a rock climbing wall, aerobics, exercise equipment, and a walk/jog track.

Light House Center: Team captains will deliver Chick-fil-A meals to help feed the needy at the center. Other participants will put together recyclable Coke bags filled with socks, rain poncho, chapstick, toothbrush and toothpaste to be distributed to those in need along with a handwritten note.

Truxtun Park: Chick-fil-A boxed lunch served to First 100 guests who learned the history of the Feeding Children Everywhere organization. Following lunch, the guests had a friendly competition while they assembled 10,000 meals to be donated to Louisiana flood victims.

Barnes & Noble: Guests selected a children’s book, courtesy of Chick-fil-A, to donate to a local school.

Children's books for the Walter S. Mills–Parole Elementary School also will be collected through the store's opening day, Thursday, Oct. 20. The donated books will be placed in a nearly 3-foot Book House to serve as a free library exchange.

The Chick-fil-A First 100
A tradition going back 13 years, Chick-fil-A’s First 100 celebrations have given away nearly $27 million in free food through 2015. After the road trip, each eligible participant, who is allowed to be joined by two guests at the restaurant in the afternoon, was taken back to the restaurant for a party that included dinner and the First 100 participants being awarded with a digital offer card loaded with a one-year supply of free Chick-fil-A meals (52 meals with each consisting of a Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich, medium Waffle Potato Fries and a medium beverage).

“I am so excited for this premiere celebration as it reflects my passion for serving the Annapolis community not only within my restaurant but also beyond my doors,” said local franchise owner Michael Edmonds, in a news release before the event. “I know those who participate in the grand opening road trip will forever be changed as they share in this experience together while serving and positively impacting others on behalf of our new restaurant.”

Children’s Book Drive
To give back to the community, Edmonds invited his First 100 guests and restaurant customers to celebrate the new location by participating in a children’s book drive to benefit the Walter S. Mills–Parole Elementary School. Edmonds will be collecting new and gently used children’s books through grand opening day, Oct. 20. The donated books will be placed in a nearly 3-foot Book House to serve as a free library exchange. The Book House, built from reclaimed wood, is donated by the Chick-fil-A Foundation.

About Franchise Operator Michael Edmonds
Edmonds also operates the Edgewater stand-alone and Westfield Annapolis Mall Chick-fil-A restaurants. He was one of the youngest ever to become a Chick-fil-A operator, at the age of 21, and joins less than 1 percent of operators who own three Chick-fil-A locations.

Edmonds started his career at Chick-fil-A a day after his 16th birthday. Two years later he went to work at the Westfield Annapolis Mall, which he now operates. He attended Anne Arundel Community College and graduated with degrees in business and public administration. Within three years of working at the mall location, Edmonds’ hard work and dedication were awarded with being given the opportunity to run a mall Chick-fil-A location in Indianapolis from 1992 through 1996. He moved back to Annapolis in 1997, where he and his wife, Rene, have raised three children, two who worked alongside their father in the business, and became grandparents in 2011.

“After much anticipation, my team members and I can’t wait to welcome our guests to the city of Annapolis’ first official Chick-fil-A restaurant,” said Edmonds. “We’re not just in the chicken business — we’re in the people business. Our goal is to provide a remarkable experience for every customer, every time, by serving food our guests can truly feel good about eating, providing sincere hospitality and being a good neighbor.”

Restaurant Details
The Annapolis Chick-fil-A restaurant features a:

• Heritage restaurant design that showcases handmade, authentic materials for a vintage-inspired interior, including a large gathering table made from reclaimed wood, subway tiles, and light fixtures made from recycled Coca-Cola bottles.
• two-story interactive indoor play area for children and free Wi-Fi.
• drive-thru service expanded to offer dual drive-thru ordering lanes and screens to enable customers to move quickly into a single lane for payment and pickup, with access isolated from the parking lot.
• 4,877-square-foot building with a dining room that seats 122 with 22 additional outdoor patio seats.
• full-service menu, including breakfast until 10:30 a.m., and will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Friday, and then from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday. Like all Chick-fil-A locations, it will be closed on Sunday.

Photos courtesy of Chick-fil-A