Chick-fil-A Inc will celebrate the Jan. 6 opening of Suffolk’s first free-standing restaurant by giving away nearly $26,000 in free food in 15 minutes to the first 100 adults in line at the restaurant.

As part of the grand opening festivities, each of the first 100 adults, age 18 and older, in line by 6 a.m. on Jan. 6 will receive a one-year supply of free Chick-fil-A combo meals (52 coupons). Customers may line up 24 hours in advance at the new restaurant located at 1018 North Main St.

The restaurant will officially

open for business at

6:30 a.m. on Jan. 6. Nicki Digby has been selected to operate the new location.

&uot;We continue to be amazed at the Chick-fil-A fans who have gotten in line as early as 24 hours before the awarding of the free year supply of food in all types of weather conditions including 60-mph winds, floods, freezing rain, and tornado warnings,&uot; said Chick-fil-A Inc. President Dan Cathy, son of Chick-fil-A founder, who plans to be in Suffolk for some of activities during grand opening week.

&uot;I know that our customers in Suffolk will exhibit the same enthusiasm for the opening of the first Chick-fil-A restaurant in their area and will really love the convenient free-standing design and the ‘my pleasure’ customer service.&uot;

Along with an indoor playground, the new restaurant reflects a free-standing restaurant design that reflects a more casual dining.

In recent weeks, Chick-fil-A operations have received four awards from national organizations and publications. These include:

-Chick-fil-A was named &uot;Best Drive-Thru in America&uot; for the third straight year this month following Quick Service Restaurant magazine’s annual restaurant study of 25 chains that surveys order accuracy, menu display, speaker clarity and the speed of service to fill orders.

-Chick-fil-A is a winner in Fast Company magazine’s inaugural Customers First Awards, singling out Cathy’s leadership as a key reason the chain continues to thrive and grow while maintaining a close connection with its team members and customers

-For the 10th year out of the past 11, Chick-fil-A received the Consumer Choice in Chains Award in the chicken category by Restaurants & Institutions, a leading food service industry publication.

-Chick-fil-A topped the quick-service restaurant competition in the South, ranking first in J. D. Power and Associates 2004 Restaurant Satisfaction Study, which rated restaurants in environment, meal, service and cost.

Customers will be able to visit the Chick-fil-A starting at 6:30 a.m. when the restaurant opens with a full breakfast menu that includes a chicken biscuit and Fresh Fruit Cup, along with a new line of breakfast items that were launched nationwide in November.

New items include the Breakfast Burrito – a soft flour tortilla filled with spicy chargrilled chicken or sausage, scrambled eggs, onions and peppers, and a blend of Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheeses; Bagel Sandwich, a breakfast portion of Chick-fil-A’s boneless breast of Chick-fil-A chicken cooked in peanut oil is served between a slice of American cheese and folded eggs on a toasted honey oat bagel; and Chick-fil-A(r) Chick-n-Minis(tm), the chain’s bite-sized Chick-fil-A(r) Nuggets in a warm yeast roll lightly brushed with a honey butter spread.

Open Monday through Saturday until 10 p.m., the restaurant includes a lunch and dinner menu featuring the chain’s Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich

that features a toasted bun, green leaf lettuce, tomato slices and BBQ sauce.

Chick-fil-A has had a policy of being closed on Sundays since its founding, 36 years ago.

The chain expects to build more than 75 locations this year, including 60 free-standing units. For more information, visit www.chick-fil-a.com or www.chick-fil-apressroom.com.

andy.prutsok@suffolknewsherald.com