As we’ve mentioned earlier, Chick-fil-A has big plans for expansion in Northern California, but gay marriage supporters — of which there are quite a lot in the Bay Area — don’t plan to let this happen without a fight. The first of five planned new locations is set to open next month at 2750 North Main Street in Walnut Creek, and that opening has just been pushed back two weeks, for the second time, as an opening day protest has grown on Facebook. It’s still a modest number of people who have said they’ll join the picket line, 338 and counting, and Chick-fil-A isn’t commenting on the strife. The opening is now scheduled for October 25, and before the delays was originally set to open September 20.
The Walnut Creek location is the closest one so far to San Francisco, which was arguably Ground Zero in the gay marriage fight, and it infringes upon the 40-mile radius that Mayor Ed Lee “recommended” they maintain in their expansion plans.
Chick-fil-A also plans to open locations at 1962 El Camino Real in Mountain View (currently a Sizzler), at 35 Rowland Way in Novato, and in Santa Rosa and San Jose as well.
It has been known for several years that Chick-fil-A was a supporter of Proposition 8 in California and had donated money to anti-gay-marriage organizations. But it was not until CEO Dan Cathy publicly made new comments denouncing same-sex marriage in June that the current wave of protest over the chicken chain arose. On August 1 an unsanctioned “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day” brought out fans across the country who support the chain despite, or because of, Cathy’s views.
Walnut Creek Chick-fil-A opening pushed back, so is protest [Contra Costa Times]
Earlier: Chick-fil-A to Open Yet Another Bay Area Location in Novato
Chick-fil-A’s ‘Cow Appreciation Day’ Promo Spurs Heckling About Homophobia
