Free Food for First 100 Customers at New McDonald's

While lots of people lined up a small group was lining up for burgers that have never gone out of style—at McDonald's.

The newly-renovated restaurant at 2107 East Joppa Rd. is set to reopen early Thursday after being completely razed earlier this year.

And with the reopening comes a special promotion that many cheeseburger lovers couldn't pass up: A sign facing the road proclaims that the "first 100 customers in the door eat free for one year."

At 12:30 p.m. when many waited at the newly opened and nearby Gino's for their first taste, a group of young men who work at Outback Steakhouse in Perry Hall set up chairs near the front door to the McDonald's store.

"We're professional sitter-outters," said Jim Davis, 22, of Fallston. "We waited outside Best Buy for three days on Black Friday."

The group found out about the reopening and the promotion attached to it around noon Tuesday and began making plans to wait it out—they will stay up all night until the restaurant finally opens at 5 a.m. Thursday.

"It's free McDonald's for a year," said Patrick Conway, 22, of Parkville.

Armed with Outback Steakhouse lawnchairs, an enormous jug of lemonade, a tray of chicken nuggets and their tenacity, the guys plan to wait it out.

How will they pass the time? They brought a wiffleball and bat, along with a soccer ball.

Mostly though, "You just suffer, that's all it is," said 18-year-old Collin Tillette of Perry Hall.

Parkville-Overlea Patch will be there when the store opens to get the story (and maybe the free food). Will you?