

By Aaron Boyd.



A Brookfield native is opening up the first Chick-fil-A in Connecticut this fall, bringing the fast-food chain's award-winning chicken and some 60 new jobs to the area.



The new Brookfield stand-alone Chick-fil-A restaurant is the first of four Connecticut locations slated to open within the next 6 months, including Danbury, Wallingford and Enfield.



Currently the closest Chick-fil-A restaurant is about 70 miles away inside the Paramus Park Shopping Center in Paramus, N.J., and the closest stand-alone Chick-fil-A restaurant is about 85 miles away in Chicopee, Mass.



Chick-fil-A will celebrate the grand opening of the new Brookfield restaurant by giving away a one-year supply of free Chick-fil-A meals (a digital offer card loaded with 52 free Chick-fil-A meals) to the first 100 adults in line on opening day.



The "First 100" celebration draws Chick-fil-A's most loyal fans who arrive up to 24 hours in advance with tents, TVs, computers, gaming systems and other gear to pass the time while camping out overnight.



Since the event began in October 2003, Chick-fil-A has given away almost $21 million in free food. Visit their website for more information.



The new Connecticut Chick-fil-A is one of 88 stand-alone, in-line and drive-thru restaurants the chain plans to open nationally this year, creating more than 6,700 new jobs. Chick-fil-A continued to grow in 2013, increasing the number of new restaurants initially planned for the year and reporting record-setting annual sales of more than $5 billion.



Chick-fil-A's signature chicken sandwich was last week named the tastiest chicken sandwich in Consumer Reports 2014 Fast Food Survey of 32,405 readers, repeating the results of the magazine's last fast food report in 2011. Respondents, who were asked about their experiences at 65 fast food chains, not only said Chick-fil-A's chicken sandwich was the best tasting but also rated Chick-fil-A as number one overall out of 65 chains in customer service and cleanliness.



In addition, the chain was a 2013 winner of Nation's Restaurant News' annual recognition of "the best the restaurant industry has to offer." The annual award, given to five industry recipients this year, honors chains who have a proven track record of leadership, operational excellence, market performance, innovation and community involvement.



Chick-fil-A fans can stay up to date on construction and grand opening activities by visiting the restaurant's Facebook page.



Based off a release from CP Communications.

