Ad
PHOTOS: Chicken Salad Chick draws in celebration and a line
Published
Modified
A long-awaited restaurant officially opened and Albuquerque, and Rio Rancho residents alike couldn't be more excited.
More than 80 people lined up in front of Chicken Salad Chick before its opening and ribbon cutting at 9:30 a.m. April 23.
Some got to the restaurant early that morning but the first in line, Teresa Parraz, was there at 10 p.m. the day before to get in line.
"I've never tried it. It's my first time. I'm a student who goes to UNM, and heard the first in line gets free chicken salad once a week. I thought that was super exciting," she said just before the doors opened to customers.
The chain is offering some giveaways during its opening week. On April 23, the first 100 guests received free chicken salad for an entire year. Parraz, being the first to try Chicken Salad Chick, got one free Large Quick Chick per week for 52 weeks. Every guest after her would receive one per month for 12 months.
It was also Parraz's birthday.
"I was like, free food, it's my birthday. I thought it would be a fun way to start the day," she added.
Store owners Jennifer Sanchez and Keith Murray couldn't agree more.
"Thank you to everyone who's helped us make this happen," Sanchez said.
Murray and Sanchez added the restaurant is founded on being charitable. To prove that, the restaurant donated a $2,837.92 check to the Veterans Integration Center in New Mexico.
Ad
Chicken Salad Chick's Chief Marketing Officer Tom Carr and Chief Operating Officer Jim Thompson were at the event to wish the restaurant well.
"We're a brand and a business that's based on communities," Carr said.
Thompson got emotional, saying Sanchez used to work for him and now he is proud that she is a partner.
Before Chicken Salad Chick opened and the service team there became overwhelmed with customers, Sanchez reminded them of the Chick motto.
"The day will get stressful, but what do we say when it gets stressful?," she asked the team.
"It's just chicken salad," they responded in unison.
To see the other giveaways available during the week of April 23-27, visit the restaurant on Unser Boulevard in Albuquerque, just past the Rio Rancho city limits.
