The first Chick-fil-A in Washington will open April 9 in Bellevue, but those wanting a first taste of the action should consider bringing a sleeping bag.
A long-standing tradition for new Chick-fil-A restaurants, the “First 100” giveaway offers a free meal each week for 52 weeks to 100 participants selected to camp out 24 hours prior to a location’s opening. The Chick-fil-A on 116th Avenue Northeast will host its “First 100” on April 8, with customers camping out in the parking lot.
“I’ll be out there cheering them on, too, and chatting with our guests,” said Valerie Artis, Bellevue Chick-fil-A owner.
Artis applied for the chance to own a Chick-fil-A franchise back in 2013, she said, after 17 years as a marketing professional. A year later an import car shop and Denny’s restaurant were razed to make way for the state’s first Chick-fil-A.
“I won’t say it felt good,” said Artis of Denny’s closure on 116th, having provided marketing for IHOP prior to her franchise ownership, “but I did see the irony in it.”
She said she had once considered Chick-fil-A a secondary competitor to IHOP, and several years ago tried out one of the restaurants in Atlanta. While she enjoyed the food and service, Artis said her desire to own her own chain wasn’t immediate.
“I always said, ‘No, it’s not for me,’ and then the light bulb went off for me,” she said. “The timing was really right.” It also served as a lesson for Artis’ 18-year-old son, who was looking at colleges around the time she applied for franchise ownership. “He’s college bound. We’re Chick-fil-A bound.”
Construction is nearly wrapped up at the restaurant, and Artis has spent much of March hiring on employees who will be receiving full-scale training at the end of the month. Corporate trainers also will be on hand for Chick-fil-A’s opening.
All Chick-fil-As are built for LEED certification, the Bellevue location being the first to use a new, more modern design. Rather than traditional black and red colors, Artis said blue will replace black, as it is more representative of the Puget Sound region.
The fast food chain made headlines in 2012 when its chief operations officer made public comments opposing same-sex marriage, later reports showing Chick-fil-A’s charitable endeavor donated millions to political organizations opposing LGBT rights. The company later stated it would skip the political arena moving forward and has since ceased those donations.
“I just invite them in to come know us, because that’s not who I am and that’s not the brand,” Artis said of those still harboring resentment toward the chain.
Artis is being joined by her husband, Greg, and 12-year-old son, Prestin, all relocating to Bellevue from Southern California — their oldest, Tyler, 18, is eyeing several colleges on the West Coast.
The Bellevue Chick-fil-A opening will be followed by restaurants in Lynnwood and Tacoma, as the chain eyes other Washington markets. Artis said the brand focuses on community, which is what she wants to do in Bellevue, rather than focus on operating additional units in the state.
She said she wants to get involved with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Bellevue and other youth advocacy organizations. And, while the First 100 will get the first bite, Artis said the restaurant will be open for tours of the kitchen for anyone at virtually any time.
“For me, it’s not Valerie’s Chick-fil-A; it’s Bellevue’s Chick-fil-A.”
