Vernon Hills Chick-fil-A Opens Thursday, Free Chicken for First 100 Customers

Information submitted by Chick-fil-A®.

Vernon Hills’ first Chick-fil-A® restaurant will open Nov. 14, bringing nearly 80 new jobs and the chance for 100 adults to win free Chick-fil-A meals for a year as the chain reaches the 10th anniversary of its signature grand opening celebration.

Customers began lining up and camping out Wednesday to ensure a spot in the top 100.

Chick-fil-A’s “First 100” event, which began as a way to celebrate the first stand-alone Chick-fil-A in Arizona in 2003, immediately became the cornerstone of every Chick-fil-A grand opening when the first person arrived more than 18 hours the day before, wondering where to get in line. Others soon followed and by the time the restaurant opened for business the next day, more than 100 were waiting, a press release stated.

Chick-fil-A implemented the “First 100” at every grand opening and in the past 10 years has given away more than $18 million in free food at almost 700 grand openings. An additional $2.5 million is slated to be given away at 91 grand openings this year.

The new Vernon Hills restaurant at 701 N. Milwaukee Ave. will be the scene of the latest Chick-fil-A grand opening celebration. The first 100 adults, 18 and older with identification, in line when the doors open about 6 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14, will win a one-year supply of free Chick-fil-A® Meals (52 coupons with each consisting of a Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich, medium Waffle Potato Fries™ and a medium drink) – a total of more than $30,000 in free food.

The line officially opens at 6 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 13, with the free meal cards being awarded Thursday, Nov. 14, around 6 a.m. For complete rules, see Chick-fil-A First 100 Promotion.

The restaurant also is partnering with The Chapel for a non-perishable food drive at the restaurant from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15, and Saturday, Nov. 16, which will benefit the Community CARE Center. Anyone donating four or more items during that time will receive a coupon for a free Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich. Items needed include: soup, chili, fruit, tomatoes, and tuna. The Chapel is a multi-site church that serves the Mundelein, Libertyville, and surrounding communities.

Grand opening festivities include:

• Chicago Bears linebacker, #59 Khaseem Greene will greet fans and sign autographs at the restaurant from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15.

• A Mini Milkshake Bash for all area high school students Friday, Nov. 15th from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The Vernon Hills restaurant becomes the state’s 26th location and the second to open within eight weeks in Illinois.

Beth Dahlenburg, who has strong ties to the state including living in the Northern Suburbs for more than 20 years, has been selected as Owner/Operator of the new Chick-fil-A restaurant. With a degree in English and speech communications from Illinois Wesleyan University, Dahlenburg joins Chick-fil-A with 21 years of leadership development and sales/marketing experience. Along with her husband Larry and three children, Dahlenburg, looks forward to serving the Vernon Hills community, the press release states.

“Our focus on freshly prepared food and personal customer service is as central to our new restaurant as it was the day Truett opened his first Chick-fil-A location,” stated Dahlenburg. “That commitment continues for me and my team members at our new Vernon Hills location where we can’t wait to welcome and serve first time guests to try Chick-fil-A as well as those that are already fans of the brand.”

The new restaurant seats 136 with additional outdoor seating and has free Wi-Fi. The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., serving a full breakfast menu until 10:30 a.m.

For more information on the Vernon Hills Chick-fil-A restaurant visit www.cfarestaurant.com/vernonhills or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cfaVernonHills.