Chick-fil-A in Keizer is open to overnight camping customers
At 6:30 a.m. Thursday, more than 40 cars sat in the driving row by honking in excitement as staff cheered the opening of Chick-fil-A, Keizer’s newest fast-food restaurant.
More than twenty people waited all night to taste the restaurant’s famous chicken. About half an hour before the official opening, more than 30 people queued outside the front doors with water bottles and blankets in their hands. Human Resources Director David Jones gave the hobs to customers standing in line. “The past three weeks have been a whirlwind,” Jones said. “I’m just excited because so many people are pumping.”
One of the people in line was McKenna Brewer, a hairdresser in Salem. She’s been at Chick-fil-A with two friends since about 9:30 p.m. on a Wednesday. Brewer said she’d drive for two hours with her friends to get Chick-fil-A back when she lived in Eugene and is excited that she’s closer to one now.
To celebrate the opening, Brewer wore a T-shirt that read “Chick-fil-A Babe,” which was a Christmas gift from her niece and sister-in-law who know her love for the fast food chain.
Brewer wasn’t the only one camping. Blake Altman, a junior at Sprague High School in Salem, spent the night in line to drive. He and his friends were the first to be served in line. Order chicken burrito and spicy chicken biscuit. He also displayed the Chick-fil-A plush toy and cup that the staff were handing out to customers.
When the orders flashed on the screen inside, the staff worked together to take out the orders, smiled and said the signature Chick-fil-A, “I am happy,” as they delivered the food.
By noon, traffic near the restaurant was redirected. Orange cones and people holding stop signs to control the flow of traffic could be seen on the road as the parking lot was nearly full.
The restaurant is the first Chick-fil-A location in the middle of the Willamette Valley and the ninth overall in Oregon.
Clint Peebles, owner of Keizer, is a native of Willamette Valley. He graduated from Oregon State University and held positions as Operations Manager, Sales Manager, and Customer Service prior to joining Chick-fil-A.
“I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to fulfill my dream of owning a restaurant alongside my family and friends,” Peebles said in a press release. “I am excited to start this new chapter at Keizer serving delicious chicken with unforgettable hospitality.”
Chick-fil-A honors 100 local champions in Keizer with free Chick-fil-A meals for a year.
The Keizer site is located at 5655 Ulali Drive NE. It’s open Monday through Saturday 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. for dining and 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. drive-thru.