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Chicken lovers camp out at new Bridgewater Falls restaurant

‘First 100’ in door at Chik-Fil-A get free meals for a year.

Contestants camp out near Chik-fil-A at Bridewater Falls on Wed., Feb. 9 to win free meals for a year. The store opens Thursday.

Nick Graham/Staff photographer Contestants camp out near Chik-fil-A at Bridewater Falls on Wed., Feb. 9 to win free meals for a year. The store opens Thursday.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Jonathan Gordon, left, Hannah Lasorella and Annelle Schaeper, from Fairfield Twp., try to stay warm in their tent in the parking lot of Chick-fil-A at Bridgewater Falls in Fairfield Twp. Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011. The public was invited to participate in

Nick Graham/Staff photographer Jonathan Gordon, left, Hannah Lasorella and Annelle Schaeper, from Fairfield Twp., try to stay warm in their tent in the parking lot of Chick-fil-A at Bridgewater Falls in Fairfield Twp. Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011. The public was invited to participate in "First 100, " where the first 100 people in line receive coupons for free meals for the next year.

ENLARGE PHOTO

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By Kelsey Cano, Staff Writer Updated 11:31 AM Wednesday, February 9, 2011

FAIRFIELD TWP. — One-hundred people are going to be eating more chicken for the next year — and it will be free.

The public was invited to participate in a “First 100” event in which the first 100 people in the door at the new Chik-fil-A at Bridgewater Falls receive coupons for free meals for the next year.

The coupons are good at all Chik-fil-A locations, which spurred some out-of-towners to set up camp at the new Bridgewater Falls store.

By 8 a.m. Wednesday, 98 people had registered and were camping out in tents, trying to stay warm under blankets and remain occupied with games and books. As long as they stayed on the premises until 6:30 a.m. Thursday when the restaurant opened, they would receive coupons for 52 free meals.

Tara Wolfe traveled from Columbus to join Kim Botner of Liberty Twp. to participate. Botner said this is the ninth “First 100” she’s participated in. With a husband and son, she said 52 coupons don’t go far, so she stocks up where she can.

Angie Slifer, grand opening event planner, said for many people, it’s not just about the coupons, but also about the fun.

“It’s no longer about the chicken, it’s about the experience,” she said. “It becomes about the social experience.”

She said the majority of the 98 people had participated in the event before, with about 20 people camping out for the first time. She said for one person, the event is the 20th they’ve participated in. She also had a participant from California, although she believed he was a college student.

One man attending said he called in sick to work to participate for the first time, and declined to give his name so he wouldn’t be in trouble with his boss.

He said he was there for the fun and free food.

Different events throughout the day and night are planned, with a DJ set to play Wednesday evening, a hot chocolate party, a dance off and games, Slifer said. The participants are allowed to go into the restaurant to use the bathroom, and given the weather, sit and warm up for a brief period of time. Meals and snacks also were provided, she said.

“I feel honored they love Chick-fil-A,” Slifer said, adding the Fairfield Twp. “First 100” was the 41st she’s managed. “You get to make people very happy.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 483-5237  or kcano@coxohio.com.