# Chik-fil-A and making money **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 14, 2004, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795 "2004-08-14T03:36:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/21 "2004-08-14T23:14:41Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/22 "2004-08-14T23:29:37Z")
> [@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](http://www.chick-fil-a.com). 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. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/23 "2004-08-15T03:23:46Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/24 "2004-08-15T05:48:37Z")
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.) ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/25 "2004-08-15T07:17:51Z")
> [@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 ---
**Author:** ![hermann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b487fb/32.png) [@hermann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hermann)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/26 "2004-08-15T17:03:12Z")
It seems we’re still waiting for a cite from Bosda. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/27 "2004-08-15T17:31:14Z")
> [@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. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/28 "2004-08-15T17:44:35Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/29 "2004-08-16T01:17:19Z")
> [@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. ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/30 "2004-08-16T01:20:09Z")
> [@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. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/31 "2004-08-16T01:25:41Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/32 "2004-08-16T01:32:58Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![DoperChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@DoperChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoperChic)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/33 "2004-08-16T02:44:41Z")
Aww geez. It’s 10:44pm and now I really want some Chik-Fil-A. Thanks a lot guys. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/34 "2004-08-16T02:50:19Z")
> [@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. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/35 "2004-08-16T02:55:36Z")
> [@fetus](#): > > Damn good sandwiches, BTW… It’s those “two crucial pickles.” ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/36 "2004-08-16T03:06:14Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/37 "2004-08-16T03:08:39Z")
> [@](#): > > 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 ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/38 "2004-08-16T03:11:42Z")
> [@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. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/39 "2004-08-16T05:24:56Z")
> [@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). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Long\_Road](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@The\_Long\_Road](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Long_Road)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795/40 "2004-08-16T05:35:42Z")
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. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chik-fil-a-and-making-money/259795.md?page=3)