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Business & Tech

24-Hour Chicken Party in Town Center

Some had been in line since 5 a.m. Wednesday for the grand opening of Chick-fil-A.

With tents pitched, fried chicken and lounge chairs ready, hundreds of people camped outside Aliso Viejo's first Chick-fil-A, which opened Thursday at 6 a.m.

"We got here at 5:30 [Wednesday] morning," said Fady Gowanni, one of the 100 lucky winners of the "First 100" promotion. "When we got here, we were about the 70th people to get here, but there was about 110. We knew we had a good chance of winning."

The first 100 in line receive free Chick-fil-A for a year: one Chick-fil-A Meal (chicken sandwich, Chick-fil-A waffle potato fries and drink) per week for a year. Because there were more than 100 people, Chick-fil-A rafflled off the 100 "free-year" tickets to those in line. 

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Another chicken enthusiast, Kimmi Whisner, arrived at 5 a.m. Wednesday to make sure she would win the free year of chicken.

"When the numbers started getting into the 60s, I was worried," she said. "Then my son, Drew, was number 70, and I was 72. I was so excited that I was shaking."

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Once the raffle was over, those who received the "First 100" coupons had to stay in the parking lot until the grand opening at 6 a.m. A 24-hour party with entertainment and food kept the chicken fans busy.

The owner of the restaurant, Mike Ricks, 25, told a story about his experience with Chick-fil-A.

"I've been with the company since I was 16," he said. "My wife and I grew up in Panama City, Florida, and I started out in the company taking out the trash, working as a cashier and doing anything they needed."

As Ricks moved up the ranks, he and his wife, Erin, have visited nearly every corner of the nation, looking for new Chick-fil-A locations.

"We picked Aliso Viejo because we wanted to make a positive impact on a community," she said. "Plus, the people are awesome, and we love the city."

For more information, visit Chick-fil-A on the Web, or visit their location at in Town Center.

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