Our Local Chick-fil-A

[demtenjeep]

As many of you have seen and/or heard, Dan Cathy, the president of Chick-fil-A Incorporated, shared his views regarding marriage during a recently published interview. I, personally, as the owner of this Chick-fil-A in Wichita and my team that loves to come in every day to serve our guests embrace diversity and all people. We are not political, nor do we hold any social agenda other than helping our community. This location is franchised and locally owned. We employ over 100 Wichitans of all ages, gender, religious affiliations, and backgrounds. There are hurt feelings both locally and nationally and I understand. My team and I can only focus on what we do best and that is simply serving everyone in our community to the best of our abilities. We have donated food and hours to countless charities, events, and disaster efforts in our first 4 months and have committed to many more upcoming. If you would like to share your thoughts with the corporate office or with Mr. Cathy, please post them on that page. Let's leave this page for what it is- a place to celebrate our community, spread information regarding our events, and to allow others to share their own personal experiences in our store. I have loved every minute of meeting new people and serving our guests since we have opened and I truly hope that all our guests have felt genuine appreciation and service in our restaurant and through our drive-thru. That hasn't changed. I count it a blessing and an honor to serve you all every day, and I sincerely mean you all.

Thank you,
Brad Fuller
Owner/Operator

[demtenjeep]

1. I feel confident that this is denouncing the corporate

don't you

[Major Nikon]

94. Yet every single franchise gives a significant amount of money back to bigots

... who use that money to undermine civil rights.

This makes the individual franchise owner's views pretty much irrelevant.

[marlakay]

97. That's what I was thinking

If the owner really believed in civil rights and everyone the same they should not have bought a franchise without looking into the types of donations they give and what the companies beliefs are.

[Newsjock]

2. Place your bets: Brad Fuller Owner/Operator will lose his franchise over this

A quick overnight shipment of signage, food, and paint, and it'll reopen the next week as Chipotle.

[demtenjeep]

4. naw, our city has waited a LONG time for Chick-fil-a and are already deluged with Chipotle

I think it will stick around

It has only been in operation less than a year

[freshwest]

87. I wouldn't think so? A franchise owner has some rights, he's part owner of his store, huh?

[marlakay]

98. My husband said same thing

They have to sign to agree with company policies...

[lpbk2713]

3. This whole Chik-fil-A thing reminds me of what happened to the Sambo's restaurant chain.

Sambo's management thought they were right and public perception was all wrong about them.

Right up until they went bankrupt and ceased to exist. Go ahead Chick-fil-A. It may have been
a nice ride but it is about to come to an abrupt end.

[cherokeeprogressive]

20. Wow. THERE'S a name I haven't heard in like... forever. There's still one open!

Just seeing the name sent me to Wiki cuz I remember reading about how Sambo turned the tiger into butter by getting it to chase him around the tree. At least that's how I THINK I remember the story... God I must have been all of 9 years old! I found the ORIGINAL one in Santa Barbara, CA is still open.

I took this off of Google Maps:

[Atman]

54. Remember the full name of the story?

"Little Black Sambo."

Yes, it was a standard-issue story book when I was a kid. But then, so were "Colored" water fountains.

You recall the story correctly; Little Black Sambo turned the tiger into butter by getting him to chase him around the tree.

[Marooned]

21. Chick-fil-A is the 10th largest fast food chain

It isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

[Mr Dixon]

52. SMH

Who thought that would be a good name? i never heard of it until yesterday, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambo%27s_Restaurant madness

[kctim]

93. Sorry

But the end of Chick-Fil-A will not come about because they don't support gay marriage.

[dogman]

5. It is unfortunate he didn't do better research when he chose this franchise.

On the other hand, all boycotts do not succeed. As I read recently, I will eat there Sundays.

[demtenjeep]

6. I have no problem with our local one AND they have a GF menu it is one FF place where we can eat

I like it.

[xmas74]

14. I thought they were all closed on Sundays. nt

[demtenjeep]

15. they are

thats what he meant...

[Bluenorthwest]

7. Brad Fuller, lining his pockets and not wanting to see that end over something like mere hate

speech. Brad "Please keep my profits and those of Mr Cathy high, and allow me to use a pile of rhetoric about community to plead for my own bottom line."
Poor Brad. Worried about his wallet. He does not even say that he hires LGBT people or state that he respects us, he just says 'shut up and pay me'.

[demtenjeep]

8. actually they do. One of my former students was one of the first hired

[Maven]

10. Well, sadly he or she wasn't worthy of a mention

by Mr. Fuller.

I wonder why.

[Chan790]

58. Probably for the same reason...

the previously-openly-gay manager of one of the local CfA felt the need to go back in the closet after being hired by them. I find it disappointing but I can't blame him, it's a tough job market and retail fast-food management is not the most job-skills-portable field.

[Maven]

9. What an absolutely empty statement.

Never does he even mention the word "gay." He doesn't even include "sexual orientation" in the list of categories he so magnanimously claims to employ.

What this message amounts to is: The CEO of the company I'm associated with has attracted negative attention to my business, and without saying where I stand on this issue (wink wink haters), I hope you don't stop giving me your money.

You choose to profit from an organization that promotes hate, Mr. Fuller. Now share in the consequences.

[Lex]

16. It was a bunch of happy bullshit

without saying anything about lesbian and gay customers.

[wendylaroux]

27. So true Maven

that's what i got out of this also.

[Zalatix]

45. I was thinking the same thing. Where is the direct condemnation of homophobia?

[slampoet]

11. His company still hires only married people in a state where gays can't marry.

Note he never says he employs people of all marital statuses.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

22. Chick-fil-a only hires married people?

did I misread your post?

sP

[Mimosa]

28. No, they do hire single people.

And black people, and even gay people. Maybe not gay people who are flamers.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

30. i know...i was just shocked at the idiocy of the post

and was making sure that i wasn't reading something that wasn't there. i am pretty tired from a long shift and COULD have been hallucinating.

sP

PS : love your avatar

[UnrepentantLiberal]

31. "Flamers"?

[stlsaxman]

50. is that "flamer" as in...

[2ndAmForComputers]

61. I'm curious. What do you mean by "flamers?"

[Bluenorthwest]

62. Wow, and there is it at last, full and open use of slurs.

What a fucked up thing to post, and with that emoticon as well. You should be banned for this, this is a slur.

[fizzgig]

63. flamers?

disgusting.

[MineralMan]

68. Highly inappropriate term, that.

And the laughing face makes it even worse. You should self-delete the post, even though a jury voted 3-3 to leave it. It's offensive.

[yardwork]

71. Hilarious! I guess those "flaming" gay people don't deserve to have jobs, right?

What other groups of people don't deserve to work, in your opinion?

[Marrah_G]

73. Flamers? really? you really said that.......

[DemocratsForProgress]

83. Disgusting remark.

You should be ashamed of yourself.

[cali]

86. what disgusting and shameful bigotry. Shame. Shame. Shame.

[slampoet]

35. Yes, check out this article in Conservative Forbes.

Chick-fil-A founder and chairman S. Truett Cathy.
Cathy, 86, credits the company's success to 975 franchisees and 600 employees who are unusually dedicated in an industry known for grumpy operators and high turnover among hourly workers. The turnover among Chick-fil-A operators is a low 5% a year. Among hourly workers turnover is 60%, compared with 107% for the industry. "We tell applicants, 'If you don't intend to be here for life, you needn't apply,'" says Cathy, who opened his first restaurant in 1946.

Loyalty to the company isn't the only thing that matters to Cathy, who wants married workers, believing they are more industrious and productive.

http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2007/0723/080.html

[ProdigalJunkMail]

39. i guess all those high school and college kids that work there

are already married? odd...

sP

[slampoet]

40. read the article before you reply next time.

The article talks about the people hired by the central company which is operators and HQ staff and assuming also truck and warehouse staff.

Your Burger flippers might be one way or the other up to a franchise operator, but i have seen at least 2 locations where all the staff were over 30 and one other where there was only one younger person.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

47. ooohhhh, so you were wrong and you're still making assumptions

but that's ok. never mind the fact that there ARE single people who work there...yes, even at HQ. you keep believing that they only hire married folks...you'll be wrong...but that probably isn't all that unusual.

sP

[slampoet]

56. So you are calling the management of Chik-fil-a incompetent for allowing an inaccurate

Forbes article to be written about them?

And the proof you offer is.......nothing.

[rucky]

12. Despite all the comments above mine...

I thought he handled it quite well, and the statement - taken at face value - is how business should be done.

[demtenjeep]

13. and it was written pretty quickly after the first insult

from corproate

[Maven]

18. Respectfully, you're speaking from a position of privilege on this issue

and your post shows it.

I suppose that is the audience to whom Mr. Fuller directed his statement. People who are not directly affected by his company's hate, but who might feel guilty for subsidizing it.

Nothing about Chick Fil A's position on or handling of this matter is "how business should be done."

[Joe the Revelator]

37. Speaking from a position of privilege....

I agree with you 100%. Chickfila is a non- entity to me, no matter how many local managers apologize. My money will not be used to support bigotry if I can help it.

[rucky]

48. I'm speaking from the position of an observer

and yes, I often am directly unaffected by issues I speak out about. It doesn't mean I'm not qualified to analyze a situation and offer an opinion.

What would you do if you were a franchise owner, and the jackasses in the home office start shooting off their mouths without regard for your customers or for your livelihood?

This franchise owner is obviously upset with corporate. He's encouraging direct action against corporate and trying to protect his damaged business in the process. Other locations may not be doing anything, but what if they all spoke out? What else should they do?

[mitchtv]

81. +1 thank you

[William769]

43. If your not part of the solution, your part of the problem.

Just saying.

[rucky]

49. Is taking down an independent franchise owner part of the solution?

I support direct action against corporate, and doing it in a way that doesn't fuck up the lives of innocent people.

[William769]

57. There is a whole group of innocent people that their lives are being fucked up by discrimination.

As I have said in another post here, massive massive fail.

[Egalitarian Thug]

17. Translation; "Please don't make me responsible for my choice".

No sympathy here. If he's really concerned he should sue corporate, but I think it is perfectly clear that he is just another capitalist exploiter that sees potential losses on the horizon.

[Mimosa]

19. Cathy didn't say anything 'anti-gay'

Bad journalism gripes me, especially when it leads people to believe somebody, anybody, said something he or she did not say.

But why let facts get in the way of outrage?

http://www.getreligion.org/2012/07/wheres-the-beef-what-the-chick-fil-a-boss-really-said/

Now, one would assume — after reading a reference to the “comments of company President Dan Cathy about gay marriage” — that this interview from the Biblical Recorder in North Carolina (which was circulated by Baptist Press) actually included direct quotes from Cathy in which he talks about, well, gay marriage.

In this case, one cannot assume that.

While the story contains tons of material defending traditional Christian teachings on sexuality, the controversial entrepreneur never talks about gay rights or gay marriage. Why? Because he wasn’t asked about those issues in the interview.

This raises an interesting journalistic question: Is a defense of one doctrine automatically the same thing as an on-the-record attack on the opposite doctrine? In this case, is it accurate for CNN (and others) to say that Cathy made comments about gay marriage when, in fact, he did not speak words addressing that issue?

[UnrepentantLiberal]

23. Bullshit

http://m.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=38301

"As it relates to society in general, I think we are inviting God's judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at Him and say, 'We know better than You as to what constitutes a marriage,'" Cathy said on "The Ken Coleman Show." "I pray God's mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we would have the audacity to try to redefine what marriage is all about."

[ProdigalJunkMail]

25. holy shit, the deja vu is screwing with me tonight... n/t

[Lex]

24. Pssst. You don't have to say the words "I'm against gay marriage" to make it clear

that you are. No one was confused by what he meant. I think it's funny and pathetic people are now trying to figure out how walk it back for him.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

26. You might get the impression they're defending him.

[Mimosa]

29. Not defending anybody.

CNN is guilty of journalistic malpractice.

[Lex]

32. CNN knew exactly what he meant, as did everyone else. nt

[Major Nikon]

33. Sorry, gotta raise the bullshit flag here

This is the 2nd thread I've observed you doing it even after you've been corrected.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

34. You're running interference for him.

That's obvious.

[slampoet]

36. BULLSHIT

Read an article from Forbes Magazine where Cathy says she prefers to hire only married people and then balance that against the fact she is against gay people being allowed to marry.

http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2007/0723/080.html

[PassingFair]

88. Um. You know that Cathy is a guy, right. That Cathy is his last name, right?

Dan Cathy

[slampoet]

89. phone auto correct.

[Joe the Revelator]

38. You must really like chicken sandwiches.

[2ndAmForComputers]

59. Suuuuuure.

[LooseWilly]

41. A local paper quotes Cathy as saying "his company was 'guilty as charged' of supporting marriage

... only between a man and a woman." (Daily Post out of Palo Alto/Mid-Peninsula) in an article about a local same sex couple, who had the foresight to get married during the brief window when it was legal here in CA, who are suing to block issuing a zoning permit for a new Chick-fil-A in Mountain View.

The article relates that the couple filing to block the permit were spurred into action by shock at what Cathy had said.

Unfortunately, this independent paper makes a point of not posting anything online (the owner/editor is one of those who believe you should have to pay/look at the ads if you want the product of his hired reporters). There is, apparently, a site to help pay for court costs (which the story says have been covered... but there may be more?): www.wepay.com/donations/no2chik

Funny though, that you should be citing getreligion.org regarding the "facts" ... sounds like a Jesus PR site to me. Alas I haven't any more minutes to research that... just saying.

[justiceischeap]

53. Why not link to the actual interview

instead of trying to deny what he said using some other source?

"That morphed into a marriage program in conjunction with national marriage ministries," Cathy added.

Some have opposed the company's support of the traditional family. "Well, guilty as charged," said Cathy when asked about the company's position.

"We are very much supportive of the family -- the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that.

"We operate as a family business ... our restaurants are typically led by families; some are single. We want to do anything we possibly can to strengthen families. We are very much committed to that," Cathy emphasized.

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38271

Oh and from a different article:

The company has reported millions of dollars in donations to antigay groups including the Family Research Council and the Marriage and Family Foundation. Because of Chick-fil-A's ties to antigay organizations and causes, many LGBT people and allies are boycotting the restaurants, and plans to open a restaurant on the Northeastern University campus were quashed.

http://www.advocate.com/business/2012/07/17/chick-fil-coo-dan-cathy-officially-comes-out-antigay

So, defining marriage by biblical standards isn't "anti-gay" to you? Giving millions of dollars to organizations that fight openly against marriage equality isn't anti-gay to you? If that's the case, you need to educate yourself on what is and isn't anti-gay.

[Spazito]

60. Hmmm, seeing as your post seems to want to correct what you see is a misinterpretation...

could you explain what you meant when you referenced "gay people who are flamers". I interpret your comment as quite derogatory and disgusting especially with the use of the smiley at the end of the post. Here is your post in this very thread:


Mimosa (9,002 posts)
28. No, they do hire single people.

And black people, and even gay people. Maybe not gay people who are flamers.

[Ms. Toad]

64. Here is the quote:

Some have opposed the company's support of the traditional family. "Well, guilty as charged," said Cathy when asked about the company's position.

"We are very much supportive of the family -- the biblical definition of the family unit.

Source: http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38271

(Combined with 2009 donations to anti-gay groups: Marriage & Family Legacy Fund: $994,199, Focus On The Family: $12,500, Exodus International: $1,000, and Family Research Council: $1,000, to name a few, the assertion that just because he is "pro" one kind of family doesn't mean he is "anti" another just doesn't pass the laugh test. Source: http://equalitymatters.org/factcheck/201111010001 )

And - to counter another argument - remember the Supreme Court has ruled that contributions of cash are speech, so I'd say $100,000+ in opposition to marriage equality is saying quite a lot.

[William769]

42. Still part of a company that discriminates and has to pay a franchise fee to.

Sorry massive massive fail.

[William769]

44. Chick-fil-A loses Muppets, gains Mike Huckabee in gay controversy

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-chick-fil-a-muppets-huckabee-20120723,0,1227873.story

So all of you recording this thread, look at the company you keep.

[Scuba]

46. Hollow, vacuous. "There are hurt feelings..." Hey, asshat, denying civil rights ...

... goes way beyond "hurt feelings."

I'll make a special note to avoid your store along with all the other Chick-fil-Hates.

[datasuspect]

51. after reading this thread all i can say is

wow, just wow.

{pause} Really??????

[rightwinghunter666]

55. I love Chick-fil-A but they are not getting anymore of my business

I love Chick-fil-A food and service but this issue leaves me with only one choice to make. As a Dad how can take my sons to a place that thinks its OK to discriminate against people while at the same time teaching my sons its bad to discriminate against people? Yes I love your food Chick-fil-A but you will not be seeing a dime of my money anymore. Someone posted a recipe of how to make Chick-fil-A sandwiches up here so when I get the urge for one of your sandwiches that's the route I take.

I never understood why a business would make moves to alienate a certain, race, group, ect. It makes absolutely no business sense at all. You might gain a few gay hating customers but most likely they were already eating at your establishment. All you did was just loose a huge base of customers. I recall the quote from Micheal Jordan when asked about why he wouldn't support Democratic candidate Harvey Gantt. “Republicans buy shoes, too,”. Not that I totally agree with this philosophy it does indeed make great business sense something the management of Chick-fil-A have no clue of.

[Whiskeytide]

65. Someone posted the recipe!!??

Where?!!! I agree. The food is very good as fast food goes (faint praise, I know), and the service was ALWAYS excellent. We used to eat there at least 2 or 3 times a month, and went out of our way to do it. But I think this is the final straw. I can't rationalize my way around it anymore. I do think its mostly Cathy and his ideology at work, but still. I plan to tell my kids we're standing in solidarity with the Muppets!

Now, how about that recipe.

[ismnotwasm]

69. Here ya go

Via Buzzfeed with a video ( I haven't watched it but I assume it's a how to video)


Ingredients:
1 boneless, skinless chicken breast
1/4 cup pickle juice (sour dill is my favorite)
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup flour
1 tablespoon powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon celery salt
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
Optional: up to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper for a spicy sandwich
Oil for frying (about a cup)




http://www.buzzfeed.com/wedontgiveafrak/chick-fil-gay-sandwich-chick-fil-a-copycat-recipe-2t1y

[Whiskeytide]

85. Thanks

I'll try it this weekend.

[TreasonousBastard]

66. Amazing! This guy dropped at least a hundred grand of...

his and borrowed money to open a franchise and shortly after the big boss makes the news with an anti-gay marriage message he risks his business posting a message of peace, love, and goodwill to everyone.

But that's not good enough for some people?

When Dan Cathy makes some mention of traditional families, "we all know what he means" but when Brad Fuller says he's open for business, hiring, and whatever for everyone, he has to spell it out? FWIW, if I owned a food franchise, or any retail business, I would be chary of the response if I were to be public about most controversial issues-- no matter what side you're on you're just asking for demonstrations and the business taking a huge hit. It would have to be something really big to risk that.

Stay away from CFA for whatever reason you want, or eat there for whatever reason, but it is disingenuous to put the sins of the godfather on a minion who's trying to do the right thing.

[demtenjeep]

67. thank you

I will still eat there


I also drink pepsi...

[William769]

70. What a crock of shit!

Anyone who has any knowledge at all knows chik fil a has been like this for a long time and also people have been boycotting chik fil a just as long.

You make it sound like this is a new revelation. Talk about disingenuous.

[Safetykitten]

72. Yes, it is an amazingly large crock of shit. Now straight people have discovered the joint hates the

gays! Wow! How did THAT happen? Oh, maybe, just maybe the guy in charge of the company thought he would say what he really thought since he felt safe to do so, along the lines of "I hate the gays". Gee, what environment would let that happen? Oh, maybe, just maybe a clientele oblivious to his thoughts on gays and he could say it without any blowback.

But like fashion and other items, us gays have been on this little tidbit for YEARS! But do not get in the way of a chicken lovin' straight person and where they may procure their overpriced never on Sunday shicken sandwich.

Oh, and edit. Let's test this little "community" thing he has going and ask if he would donate to a gay based charity. Eat those shicken sammies slow, or you may choke on his response.

[TreasonousBastard]

74. This is about one unit, not the whole chain...

and he seems to be bucking the boss.

You wanna boycott the place-- knock yourself out, but why spill that crock over one little guy instead of recognizing he's trying to do the right thing.

[Luminous Animal]

75. So that franchise owner is not funnelling money to corporate?

Which donates a ton of money to anti-gay groups.

[TreasonousBastard]

77. Yeah. So? Don't eat there if you don't want to, but...

my point is about trashing one little guy who's bucking management to do the right thing but that's not good enough for some people.

Trash CFA all you want, but taking a dump on one guy in Wichita, where I doubt few of the complainers could find on a map, is just wrong.

[snooper2]

91. Did Wichita ever make it on the map by the way?

[William769]

76. Thanks for your support.

Have a nice day.

[TreasonousBastard]

79. You're welcome, but...

I'm not the bad guy here-- I'm just a few electrons on a discussion board without a Chick-Fil-A within a thousand miles that I know of.

All I'm saying is I don't agree with dumping on one little guy who's trying to do the right thing. If that ruins your day, it's not my problem.

[William769]

80. ...

[mitchtv]

84. thanks for the info, but Brad

is operating a hate restaurant, I would not purchase there on the weight of some self serving , privleged merchant. some positve contribution to our effort might go along way to get back some business, but as it is, no. I particularly liked nis request to post on another page.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

90. I'm tempted to pull a Godwin here and say

what if that company funneled money to...

[unapatriciated]

96. It's not new to me. I have not eaten there once in the six years we have lived in GA.

It is a fundy corporation and they are very involved in making sure that their employees are of the same cloth.
When they state they want you for life they mean it. Last month we had a young man who had been a manager for a local Chick fil A for years. He was passed over for promotion so he started in the management training program at the grocery store where I work. I spoke to him often during his short employment with us. He was nice but very fundy in his views. He was with us for four days and lo and behold Chick fil A offered him a job at corporate level. He phoned in his resignation. I think we were a little too bohemian for him

[Politicalboi]

78. Hey Brad

Why don't you write this letter to Mr.Cathy? At the end of the day, he is the one who makes the most money. Don't blame us for his bigotry.

[Liberal_in_LA]

82. Wichitans?

[Aerows]

92. Well, Brad Fuller

Don't tell us. Tell Cathy. I'm not supporting bigotry, and even if it is a franchise, you still hand over profits that are then used in causes that further bigotry.

I don't have to eat from Chick-Fil-A. I like food from there, but I can survive without it. What I cannot overlook is a business that has practices that are completely against what I believe in. See if you can live off of RW nuts business, rather than the business of people of all political stripes.

[GObamaGO]

95. The fact remains...

that Mr. Fuller, by virtue of the fact that he owns a Chik-Fil-A franchise, is complicit in the funding of the anti-gay hate groups including the Family Research Council. Every franchisee pays fees to the corporation, and those fees are what the corporation bases its profits on, and it is through those profits that they help fund FRC and other anti-gay organizations.

Feel free to continue to patronize Mr. Fuller's franchise, but be aware that you are indirectly causing harm to our GLBTQ brothers and sisters.