Chik-fil-A and making money

[vanilla]

I tried to search for the thread, but cannot find it so I'll ask for this new one.

I read somewhere that Chik-fil-A food places are not open Sundays.
I also read that the malls didn't like this, hving one of their food places closed and told them they would keep them if they made as much profit 6 days as the other food places did 7 and they actually did.
Is this true?

[Mr. Blue Sky]

Yep. The owner does not allow it. Franchise owners cannot violate this rule. I'd asked this question before pondering what would happen to this rule when the guy dies. It's apparently written into the company's charter to cover this after he croaks. It'll be a cold day in hell before a Chik-Fil-A opens on a Sunday.

[vanilla]

So do they really make as much in 6 days as the others do in 7?

[BoBettie]

I wonder why a mall would care, as long as they get their rent from the restaurant.?

[caphis]

Originally Posted by vanilla

So do they really make as much in 6 days as the others do in 7?

Judging from the lines for each Chick-fil-A around here (I can think of 5 in the immediate area, 3 in malls, 2 stores), I'd bet they make as much in 3 or 4 days as the others do in 7.

[vanilla]

Their chicken sandwiches are good, not to mention the unusual selling of fruit cups(mostly apples) and cheesecake, which is a nice difference from others.

In ours, at a mall, one of the employees is all enthused about the Lord and tells the customers this, it seems.
Not that "I" mind, myself.

[Tuckerfan]

Apparently, the malls aren't quite the financial bonanza they once were, as Chik-fil-A's are now sprouting up in free standing locations. They're also closed on Sundays.

[don't ask]

Mall owners often have grotesque rental agreements with stores that involve the mall owner virtually profit sharing with the shop. For this reason they will close your little family store that makes you an adequate living if they can replace you with a chain store that turns a bigger profit. That is why you sometimes see successful smaller businesses moving away from malls.

[vanilla]

free range Chik-fil-a"s?

[Ruby]

Not only are they closed on Sunday, they seem to have hired every polite person under the age of 25 in the 9 surrounding counties.

Their response to any request (like asking for a drink refill) is, "My pleasure." Now I know that they're probably pod people from Stepford but dammit, I like it.

[Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor]

They also contribute to a "charitable" group that actively discourages people from using condoms.

You heard me correctly.

This outfit spreads disinformation that condoms offer no protection against HIV.

Their rationale is that homosexuality & fornication are sins.
How long will these guys burn in hell for the torment their lies cause?

I no longer eat at Chik-Fil-A

[Bricker]

Originally Posted by Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor

They also contribute to a "charitable" group that actively discourages people from using condoms.

You heard me correctly.

This outfit spreads disinformation that condoms offer no protection against HIV.

Their rationale is that homosexuality & fornication are sins.
How long will these guys burn in hell for the torment their lies cause?

I no longer eat at Chik-Fil-A

Cite?

(I'm willing to accept your word for the proposition that you no longer eat there, of course; I'm interested in suppot for the claims that (a) they contribute to a charity that (b) spreads lies about the efficacy of condom use.)

- Rick

[jimmmy]

Bosda I am NOT challenging your veracity, I am simply seeking more details -- with no mitigation to what you wrote I will be joining your boycott -- all this is a long way of asking:
Cite?

--------------------------
Another reason Malls may not be delighted with Chik-Fil-A is that Malls create a synergy -- they want to lure you in there to shop, eat, drink and spend spend spend and never leave. If 1 of the most popular restaurants is always closed on one of the most popular shopping days, people who felt like chicken or aren't up for "the usual" mall fare are going to go to another Mall or eat elsewhere coming later /leaving earlier.

[Neurotik]

Originally Posted by Ruby

Not only are they closed on Sunday, they seem to have hired every polite person under the age of 25 in the 9 surrounding counties.

Their response to any request (like asking for a drink refill) is, "My pleasure." Now I know that they're probably pod people from Stepford but dammit, I like it.

The same thing with In-N-Out in California. I wonder if it's for the same reason. In-N-Out starts its employees out at $8.25 an hour and full time employees are fully insured - health, dental, vision - along with paid vacations and a 401k. Basically, they're rewarded very well for being the best employees in the business.

[hajario]

Originally Posted by Neurotik

The same thing with In-N-Out in California. I wonder if it's for the same reason. In-N-Out starts its employees out at $8.25 an hour and full time employees are fully insured - health, dental, vision - along with paid vacations and a 401k. Basically, they're rewarded very well for being the best employees in the business.

In-n-Outs are opened on Sundays though. Most of them are opened 24/7/365.

Back to the OP, a friend of mine owns a Deli in a mall and he is required to be open whenever the mall is open. He has to pay the mall a percentage of his revenue and is limited in what he can sell so as not to compete with the other stores. For example, he can't start selling pizza becuase there is a pizza place in the mall too. I suppose the mall owners can make an exception for an incredible perfomer but they won't for my friend.

Haj

[Neurotik]

Originally Posted by hajario

In-n-Outs are opened on Sundays though. Most of them are opened 24/7/365.

Well, yeah. I was just talking about the polite employees thing, though.

[pool]

I heard that Chik-fil-A's stocks or whatever are private and that they would make a hell of a lot more money if they opened them to the public but possibly the owner has some moral reason for not doing so?

[spingears]

Originally Posted by pool

I heard that Chik-fil-A's stocks or whatever are private and that they would make a hell of a lot more money if they opened them to the public but possibly the owner has some moral reason for not doing so?

Hey! It's his business. If he's satisfied, why change? What's wrong about private enterprise anyway?

[tremorviolet]

Chik-Fil-A has a pretty cool deal for its employes too. If you agree (as a high school student )to work for them exclusively without after school activities, they will pay for your college. Which is great for many teens. I may not agree with the founder's right wing political views but I do respect someone who actually gives back to the community.

Re: Sunday closings. Publix, a Florida-based supermarket that has now spread throughout the southeast, used to be closd on Sundays as wll due to the founder's wishes. The Sunday after the founder died, the stores started staying open on Sunday. They must have had the plans in the works.

[yabob]

Originally Posted by pool

I heard that Chik-fil-A's stocks or whatever are private and that they would make a hell of a lot more money if they opened them to the public but possibly the owner has some moral reason for not doing so?

Perhaps he just doesn't feel he needs the infusion of capital, and would rather retain private ownership. Large private companies aren't THAT unusual. Burger King, Domino's Pizza and Metromedia (which operates Bennigan's, Ponderosa and a couple other steak houses) are also private. These are the three resturaunt companies in Forbes' list of largest American private companies (they list 281 private companies in the 2003 list, their criteria apparently being at least $1 billion in revenues, possibly estimated).

If it was public, his shareholders would probably do some damn fool thing like demand he open on Sundays.

[pool]

Well I wasn't criticizing him for wishing to remain private I was just saying what I heard, and I figured since they don't stay open on Sundays ostensibly for the owner’s religious reasons that maybe the decision to remain private was somehow related.... Jesus "tap dancing" Christ!

[SolGrundy]

Originally Posted by Tuckerfan

Apparently, the malls aren't quite the financial bonanza they once were, as Chik-fil-A's are now sprouting up in free standing locations. They're also closed on Sundays.

The free-standing locations aren't a new phenomenon, and neither are the mall-locations. The first restaurants were free-standing, and as the company grew they branched out from the original "Dwarf Houses" to free-standing fast-food type restaurants, to mall locations during the mall explosion in the 70's & 80's. Currently there are a few more free-standing restaurants than mall locations. This is all from the Chick-fil-a website.

The founder, Truett Cathy, is very much a conservative Christian, and he's appointed many of his family on the executive board. From all I've heard about the company, his son is next in line to take over -- many of their ad campaigns feature Cathy and his son together talking about running the family business.

I don't have any numbers, since it's a private company, but it wouldn't surprise me at all if Chick-fil-a branches make more money in six days that other chains do in seven. At least in metro Atlanta (where the chain started), Chick-fil-a is almost a staple, and I've never seen one that isn't doing a ton of business.

Out of GQ territory briefly: I've got to say kudos to Cathy for sticking to his guns and insisting on keeping the stores closed on Sunday, in spite of the potential for more money. I'm skeptical that I would agree with his political viewpoints, but I respect his convictions for sticking to his religious beliefs in spite of financial pressure, and for building a business based solely on making a good product. And Chick-fil-a's are damn good.

I'd need to see a cite on the charitable organization that Bosda mentions as well. It's not mentioned on the Chick-fil-a website and doesn't come up in any google search I've attempted.

[vanilla]

I asked about employment, and said I'd have to be home during non school hours and that lady said just leave early then.
Sounds good.
I wonder if you get discounted food then.

[Askia]

In addition to great chicken sandwiches, I'd like to be the first to assert that Chik-fil-A has the best commercially available lemonade around. (Smacks lips.)

[Odesio]

Originally Posted by Zette

I wonder why a mall would care, as long as they get their rent from the restaurant.?

Malls often require that renters keep their business open during specific hours of the day. One of the attractions of the mall for both shoppers and renters is the ability to stop by many shops during one car trip. We benefit by not having to drive to multiple places and the shops benefit because people tend to browse in the mall setting. You can't maintain that kind of environment when shops just close or open whenever they choose.

Marc

[hermann]

It seems we're still waiting for a cite from Bosda.

[Captain Amazing]

Originally Posted by yabob

Burger King, Domino's Pizza and Metromedia (which operates Bennigan's, Ponderosa and a couple other steak houses) are also private.

Just to let you know, you would have been right until about a month ago. Domino's Pizza just had a (pretty disappointing) IPO back in July, and is currently trading under the ticker name DPZ at $13.40 a share.

[Hostile Dialect]

I'm also very interested in that cite from Bosda, as I will soon be attending the University of Arizona, and the Chick-fil-A in the food court will provide a lot of my sustenance.

Damn good sandwiches, BTW, and more kudos to the owner for sticking to his guns about Sundays. The news about the anti-condom charity is pretty disheartening, though, if it's true.

[yabob]

Originally Posted by Captain Amazing

Just to let you know, you would have been right until about a month ago. Domino's Pizza just had a (pretty disappointing) IPO back in July, and is currently trading under the ticker name DPZ at $13.40 a share.

Yeah, I noticed that later, and didn't bother ammending it, since my main point was that large private companies aren't unknown. Thanks for the followup. Like I said, I checked the 2003 Forbes list. Domino's will be dropped off their 2004 list, presumably. Their IPO seems to have been mainly to trim their massive debt load, and wasn't exactly greeted with a lot of enthusiasm. BTW, number 4 on the 2003 Forbes list is the Publix supermarket chain, another onetime "closed on Sunday" example given in this thread.

[Telperien]

Originally Posted by fetus

I'm also very interested in that cite from Bosda, as I will soon be attending the University of Arizona, and the Chick-fil-A in the food court will provide a lot of my sustenance.

The Chik-fil-A in my university's food court closed last semester.

[yabob]

That's right, "Publix" is private (rather like the British school system). Specifically, it's employee owned and not traded on a public exchange. Actually, a fair number of the large private companies Forbes lists seem to be supermarkets.

[Martin Hyde]

I could care less what Chick-fil-A supports, all they have to do to keep me as a customer is make good chicken, and they do that.

[DoperChic]

Aww geez. It's 10:44pm and now I really want some Chik-Fil-A.

Thanks a lot guys.

[Tuckerfan]

Originally Posted by DoperChic

Aww geez. It's 10:44pm and now I really want some Chik-Fil-A.

Thanks a lot guys.

Wouldn't matter anyway what time it was, since it's a Sunday. You'll just have to wait until tomorrow.

[interface2x]

Originally Posted by fetus

Damn good sandwiches, BTW...

It's those "two crucial pickles."

[Mr. Slant]

Googling "Chik-Fil-A condom" turned up no results.
Googling "Chik-Fil-A charity" gave tons of hits, which turned up no listings of the actual charities involved.

[pool]

It's those "two crucial pickles."

I don't really like pickles but I never ask for a plain chicken sandwich because even though I removie them myself I like the taste the pickles leave on the bread.

Damn why must it be Sunday

[Tuckerfan]

Originally Posted by pool

I don't really like pickles but I never ask for a plain chicken sandwich because even though I removie them myself I like the taste the pickles leave on the bread.

Damn why must it be Sunday

It's just another manic Sunday (oh-woe)
I wish it was Monday (oh-woe)
'Cause that's my Funday (oh-woe)
My I don't have to runday (oh)
It's just another manic Sunday.

[Dewey Finn]

Originally Posted by Jonathan Woodall

Googling "Chik-Fil-A condom" turned up no results.
Googling "Chik-Fil-A charity" gave tons of hits, which turned up no listings of the actual charities involved.

Look into the WinShape Foundation (which was founded by Truett Cathy).

[The Long Road]

To continue the bit about malls and stores being closed, many malls are very strict about hours of operation. Open the store late = store is fined, close early = store is fined. A friend ran a store which was fined $100 for every minute the store opened late. Obviously people amde damn sure they opened on time. When you see mall security strolling around, one of their duties is to check stores being opened and operating when they should be.

[qubed]

Originally Posted by Harimad-sol

The Chik-fil-A in my university's food court closed last semester.

When the food court at Johns Hopkins was being remodeled, one company in consideration was Chick-Fil-A. But it was dropped because of its Christian associations.

From their website:

Our official statement of corporate purpose says that we exist "to glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us and to have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A."

Frankly, I find that a bit creepy.

[FriarTed]

No Chik-fil-A's in my area, tho I wish there were.

RE companies supporting conservative causes- when I heard people citing Winona Ryder's complaint in REALITY BITES that Domino's Pizza contributed to Operation Rescue, it did kinda sway me to order from Domino's more often. I always considered OR kinda extreme, considers Randall Terry totally disreputable, and I have no idea if DP has contributed to OR, BUT I know that the founder is a conservative Catholic C'tian & that if the Hollywood Left felt a need to slam DP, it must be doing something right.

Of course, it wouldn't get my business at all if it weren't damn fine pizza.

[Chastain86]

I wouldn't give a crap if they're run by Anton LaVey and the church of Satan Himself.

As long as they make tasty chicken like they do, I'm eatin' there.

I drive a long ways to eat that stuff. Mmmmm...waffle fries.

[Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor]

Ouch.

I must retract my statement, not because I believe I'm wrong, but because, for the life of me, I can't find the link to the SDMB thread I read about it in.
Damn search engine!

I know I read it here!

[Ike Witt]

Originally Posted by FriarTed

Of course, it wouldn't get my business at all if it weren't damn fine pizza.

Dominos is good pizza? Since when?

[Jenny Haniver]

[public service announcement]
At all the locations around here, at least, Chik-fil-A fries their chicken in peanut oil, which is bad news for those who are allergic.


(Go Popeye's!Yay, Popeye's!)

[/public service announcement]

[Q.E.D.]

Originally Posted by Jenny Haniver

At all the locations around here, at least, Chik-fil-A fries their chicken in peanut oil, which is bad news for those who are allergic.

Apparently, that's not the case. From the Chick-fil-A website page on food allergies:

We have been using refined (heat processed) peanut oil exclusively since our founder created the Chick-fil-A® Chicken Sandwich in the early 1960s. He found it to be the purest oil to use and better tasting to customers. We label our foil bags and Chick-fil-A Nugget boxes informing customers of our use of peanut oil.

The following information regarding the use of oils and food allergies was obtained from the International Food Information Council Foundation.*

This seems to be borne out by other sources, like this, which says:

The allergens in peanuts, soybeans, and sunflower seeds are proteins. Edible oils refined by the typical U.S. process contain no detectable protein and are thus free of the allergen. Thus, these oils should be safe for allergic individuals to eat. Salad dressings, margarine, shortening, and other oil-containing products should be safe as long as they do not contain other sources of the allergenic proteins (e.g., other soy ingredients).

Of course, I'd be remiss if I didn't recommend that you talk to your physician before putting this to the test.

[Bongmaster]

There is one at the Neshaminy Mall in Bensalem PA (just outside Philadelphia) which is a very busy/popular mall. It is without fail closed every Sunday. I often wondered how they manage to get around the mall rules which were very strict when I worked there at another store. There was hell to pay if we were late opening in the morning.

[Jenny Haniver]

Thanks, Q.E.D.. It's nice to see that Chik-fil-A addresses the issue...but I'm still not betting on it, since I'm so very fond of breathing!

[Ephemera]

I guess I'm the only person who considers a Chik-Fil-A sandwich on the same level as that of one of those one dollar microwavable sandwiches you find in some grocery stores.

Actually, no. I prefer the microwavable sandwiches. At least they're cheaper.