Chick-fil-A Opens In Seattle Before Pride Weekend

SEATTLE, WA — The first Seattle Chick-fil-A location will open Thursday on the eve of LGBTQ Pride weekend and the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots. But the company says the date was not intended to overlap with those events, although the chain's owners are reputed for their anti-LGBTQ statements and charitable donations.

"We are excited to open Chick-fil-A’s eleventh location in the Seattle/Puget Sound area and to serve everyone when we open later this week," spokeswoman Caroline Taylor said in a statement. "The timing of the restaurant opening was due to construction timelines and not intentional."

There was talk of a protest at the Seattle Chick-fil-A, but there doesn't appear to be any official plans. Local civil rights groups Patch reached out to for reaction, including Seattle Pride and the Seattle LGBTQ commission, did not respond.

In other parts of the U.S., Chick-fil-A is still a point of contention, but perhaps more for right-wing groups. A conservative radio personality commented this week that Chick-fil-A is heading "into the lion's den" by opening a Seattle restaurant. Earlier in June, Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed the "Save Chick-fil-A" law, which stops cities from banning businesses based on religious affiliation.

But the chain doesn't need any saving. It's now the No. 3 fastest-growing chain in the U.S., and has been rated the best overall in the American Customer Satisfaction Index Restaurant Report.

Unlike the other restaurants, the Bitter Lake Chick-fil-A, located at 12801 Aurora Avenue North, won't allow fans to camp out to get "first 100" free-chicken-for-a-year deal the chain is (also) famous for. Instead, the lineup will happen beginning at 5 a.m. on Thursday. You can find the full rules here.

The Seattle store will be operated by retired Navy vet and Sammamish resident Larry Artman, who is also a former Issaquah High School teacher. About 80 people will work in full and part-time positions at the restaurant.

Next up for Chick-fil-A in Puget Sound? A restaurant in downtown Renton.