Hobart Chick-fil-A reports brisk business on ‘buy-cott’ day
By Christin Nance Lazerus cnance@post-trib.com August 1, 2012 2:42PM
Updated: September 3, 2012 1:19PM
The Hobart Chick-fil-A was jammed with customers around lunchtime Wednesday as many came out to support the restaurant in the wake of controversial comments by its CEO.
In recent interviews, Chick-fil-A’s president and CEO Dan Cathy defended donations by the company’s WinShape Foundation to organizations like Marriage & Family Foundation, the Family Research Council, and other groups that oppose gay marriage.
“We’re 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 in a radio interview.
Many groups and politicians called for a boycott of the restaurant, but former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee launched Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day campaign on Facebook to support the business.
More than 150 customers were lined up outside the restaurant and more than 30 cars were parked in the two lanes of the drive-through around 12:30 p.m. Customers estimated the wait at about 45 minutes.
St. John resident Shane Lewis and his family said they decided to stop by because they are Christians.
“I don’t like the fact that there’s such hate around what people say,” Lewis said. “Let people shop where they want. I’m at Chick-fil-A right now, but I’m going to Starbucks later.”
During his lunch break, Schererville resident Michael Dolder decided to eat at Chick-fil-A for the first time.
“I don’t like it when people start dictating what you can think, and they have good values,” Dolder said.
Community Relations Director Carolyn Shaw said business was brisk since they opened for breakfast and one employee was helping to direct traffic in and out of the parking lot.
