“First 100” event at Chicago’s first Chick-fil-A

Wednesday, June 15, 6:12pm This has always been more of a pork and beef burg than a chicken city. But you wouldn’t know it judging from the line at Wabash and Chicago Avenues 12 hours before the opening of Chicago’s first Chick-fil-A (30 E Chicago Ave, 312-266-8888). About 200 people were issued raffle tickets; only 100 (plus 15 alternates, in case anyone, er, chickened out) were chosen for the honor of camping all night in front of the newest location of the Georgia-based, hyphen-happy fast foodery. The prize for the “First 100” event, a tradition at new Chick-fil-A stores: certificates for 52 free meals—one meal per week for a year. The measly $260 value didn’t kill the enthusiasm among the fried-fowl fanatics. Jennifer Shoop, 26, and Julie Walker, 27, of Wrigleyville, showed up wearing shirts with kool kids eat chikin spelled in Velcro letters. “We have a whole list of things we’re going to make the shirts say: ‘Take a vacation from beef,’ ‘Chicken is warm and tender, just like your momma,’ ” Walker said. Meanwhile, brothers Dennis, 61, and Paul Rewerts, 63, and their wives, Heidi, 57, and Jackie, 61, arrived at their fourth First 100 happening in official Chick-fil-A apparel. All this for a chicken sandwich? “Omigod!” exclaimed Heidi. “It’s the best chicken sandwich you’ll ever eat in your life. I’ve eaten hundreds and hundreds and never had a bad one.”