MANKATO — Chicken lovers in Mankato rejoiced in unison on Thursday.
Chick-fil-A opened the doors to its first full restaurant location, located at 1870 Adams St., just south of the Target in the River Hills Mall.
“It feels like the Super Bowl to me,” said owner/operator John Weaver. “You’re feeling like it’s time to lock in and deliver. I’m in the space of hey, let’s serve these guests well.”
Thursday served as the restaurant’s “Moove-in Party.” Customers who wore cow print received a free entree.
People jumped on the opportunity. They didn’t jump so high that they cleared the moon, but definitely high enough to earn a sandwich or nuggets.
The Mankato joint is one of over 4,000 locations Chick-fil-A operates across the country. It’s also one of five locations the chain plans to open in Minnesota by 2028. And while Chick-fil-A does have a location on Minnesota State University’s campus and inside Taylor Center, it’s the chain’s first stand-alone location in Mankato.
“I think the people of Mankato were asking for it,” Weaver said. “You have to make the people happy. That’s what they want. Let’s bring it to them.”
The people came. And they came in waves.
The line for the drive-thru spilled out of the location and into the initial turn lane off of Adams Street into River Hills Mall, much to the dismay of people looking to buy sports cards at Bunk’s Card Corner.
These people waited 15-20 minutes in the drive-thru line just to get their hands on chicken Thursday. The wait to order was around five to seven minutes with employees walking to waiting cars with laminated menus and tablets for patrons to place their order and pay for it ahead of time. After that, it was another eight to 10 minutes for traffic to clear and allow them to reach the pick-up window.
People came dressed to the nines. Some came in wearing cow print in any fashion they deemed. A pair of sisters combined a pair of boxes, cut two holes for their bodies, stuck them together and painted them black and white. They proudly walked in unison Thursday morning to each get their free entree.
Some came in cow print capes held together by a cowbell. Some dressed in full cow suits.
Didn’t have time to find cow print? No problem. People were set at a table outside the doors painting faces and hands to help patrons get a free entree. By 4:30 p.m. Thursday the duo at the table painted cow prints on approximately 130 patrons, with 30-40 of them (mainly children) having their faces painted.
The chain is also particular as to how many locations are opened per year. More importantly, the chain is particular as to who they allow to own and operate a location.
Weaver has been with Chick-fil-A for the last 11 years. For the last four he’s been tasked with traveling the United States to help launch new locations.
But one day he heard about the opportunity of Chick-fil-A arriving in Mankato. Weaver, originally from South Carolina, began doing research on the area. He was immediately drawn to the people of Mankato. He was also drawn to the education aspect of the town.
Above all, he liked how happy everyone in the town was.
“It’s Minnesota nice,” he said. “I realized that these are my people. I want to go join them. That’s what ultimately got us to land here.”
Weaver’s goal is to create an experience that stands out above the rest. Not the one set by a clown, a member of self-proclaimed royalty or a young lady with red pigtails.
To him, Chick-fil-A is more than food. It’s an experience.
Once you step foot out of your car or hop into the drive-thru lane you hear music. You see a cow mural. You see a clean environment.
“It’s a chance for people to have a break from whatever they have going on in life,” Weaver said. “I want to offer that rest in the place of just enjoying the experience.”
Chick-fil-A is open from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and is closed on Sundays.