The Swamp

We love Blaze. The cream sauce with feta and goat cheese, add some salami, black olives, and artichoke hearts. Mmmm.

Do y'all have PDQ? I could eat that everyday I think.

Hit up Blaze tonight. The gf got a free pizza coupon in the mail so we figured we'd try it.

Very good. Got my standard bacon, mushroom, & green chile. It is very similar to a local place here called Wise Pies. But I think that place may be in trouble if more Blazes open up.

I'll definitely go back. Reasonably priced and the portion was filling.

But Wise Pies arena!

I don’t get it. Any help translating this into something anyone other than Johnnie understands?

So get this. There's a Chick-Fil-A opening on the Las Vegas Strip late 2018/early 2019 and well-informed sources are saying it WILL be open on Sundays. Seriously, not a joke. Wonder what the hell kind of deal-making was involved with that?

brian wrote: ↑Tue Apr 03, 2018 2:59 pm So get this. There's a Chick-Fil-A opening on the Las Vegas Strip late 2018/early 2019 and well-informed sources are saying it WILL be open on Sundays. Seriously, not a joke. Wonder what the hell kind of deal-making was involved with that?

I'm curious to see if the one at Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be open on Super Bowl Sunday next year.

I read that Chick-fil-A was in serious talks to be on military bases, but the Sunday thing probably killed it. Google turns up stories about how talks fizzled about places opening in 2015.

It's a shame that now just doesn't seem to be the right time to see what ignoring your Christian values would do to your bottom line

I've never eaten at Chik Fil A (they haven't breached our very tight borders yet.

But given the company's anti-LGBT stance, has there ever been an attempt at an organized boycott of the brand?

I'll just say that I wouldn't eat there for free, despite the fact that I like their marketing campaigns.

Pruitt wrote: ↑Wed Apr 04, 2018 9:49 am I've never eaten at Chik Fil A (they haven't breached our very tight borders yet.

But given the company's anti-LGBT stance, has there ever been an attempt at an organized boycott of the brand?

I'll just say that I wouldn't eat there for free, despite the fact that I like their marketing campaigns.

I think there's been some boycotts in the past, but then the picketers ate their food and gave up the ghost.

I think I'm the last remaining boycotter. I pretend Wendy's spicy chicken sandwich is just as good when it becomes an issue.

mister d wrote: ↑Wed Apr 04, 2018 9:59 am I think I'm the last remaining boycotter. I pretend Wendy's spicy chicken sandwich is just as good when it becomes an issue.

I haven't spent my own money there in probably 3 years. And Wendy's spicy chicken is better than that other place.

It very well might be, but I think I've built it up in my head at this point.

Sorry not sorry, I eat there.

The sandwich is ok. The nuggets are 100 emoji.

We don't have Chick-fil-A here, so I guess that means I'm boycotting.

A new (and pretty good) shawarma place opened up next to our nearest Chick-fil-a, so I recommend getting shawarma instead. And if the little shawarma place next to the Chick-Fil-A is closed, then you should definitely make sure a (relatively) big shawarma franchise opens a store just a little farther down the highway, especially if that one is open late on weekends.

I simply cannot imagine a world in which I patronized only businesses that had owners I 100% agree with.

I think there's a big difference between something like "don't agree with some of their political contributions" and "straight up homophobic bigots".

Johnnie wrote: ↑Wed Apr 04, 2018 11:17 am I simply cannot imagine a world in which I patronized only businesses that had owners I 100% agree with.

Odds are there isn't a person in the world I "100% agree with" so that might be a bit overstated.

So then what's the threshold here? At what point do you go "ah, too problematic for my sensibilities."

If an ownership group is open about their Christianity I already assume they hate gay people and vote Trump. So, I'm still getting double doubles from In N Out, what's the difference with a chicken sandwich from Chick-fil-A?

I mean, I bought guns from gun shows in Arizona. Pretty sure I gave money to people who hate brown people. I'm not bugging out over fast food.

Ryan wrote: ↑Wed Apr 04, 2018 10:15 am The sandwich is ok. The nuggets are 100 emoji.

This, all day... er'yday. And they SW salad is good, too.

And to Pruitt's question, there was a pretty large-scale boycott around the time that the anti-gay stuff came out. They've always been kind of borderline for a lot of people due to not being open on Sundays... A little too in your face with the Christian angle for some folks. But fairly benign to the vast majority.

But then, sometime around 10 years ago (? - too lazy to nail it down), a local franchise donated money or food or both to a group fighting same-sex marriage in Ohio (or PA?? again, too lazy). The company said they weren't responsible for the actions of that franchise and tried to blow it off. But this sparked a bunch of digging into their charitable arm (Win something) and it was found they were giving money to the Family Research Council and other anti-gay groups.

Folks got pretty pissed on both sides, so the boycotts were met with annoying Eat Here If You're Not Queer responses (not really, but that's how I'm choosing to characterize deplorable homophobes). At some point their COO stepped to the mic and pretty much solidified the company's official position as being anti-same sex marriage. And that stance fucked with their bottom line.

What most people don't know is that at this point, they've pretty much stopped giving money to anti-gay groups and their official policy is one of inclusion.

So, I used to boycott, but it actually worked (for the most part) so I'm not riding around on a high horse about this joint anymore. I'll take the W and enjoy the best nuggets on the planet.

Johnnie wrote: ↑Wed Apr 04, 2018 12:03 pm If an ownership group is open about their Christianity I already assume they hate gay people and vote Trump.

This seems almost impossibly simple.

This seems like if we had a vegan in here and they were insisting something like "all people who eat animals must hate all animals because how else could you eat an animal for food".

Which is the strawiest strawman ever.

sancarlos wrote: ↑Wed Apr 04, 2018 10:51 am We don't have Chick-fil-A here, so I guess that means I'm boycotting.

You do down the bay a bit.

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Wed Apr 04, 2018 12:08 pm

What most people don't know is that at this point, they've pretty much stopped giving money to anti-gay groups and their official policy is one of inclusion.

So, I used to boycott, but it actually worked (for the most part) so I'm not riding around on a high horse about this joint anymore. I'll take the W and enjoy the best nuggets on the planet.

Well then that's a good story isn;t it? (Being sincere)

Okay then, I will therefore drop my theoretical boycott.

Giff wrote: ↑Wed Apr 04, 2018 12:27 pm

sancarlos wrote: ↑Wed Apr 04, 2018 10:51 am We don't have Chick-fil-A here, so I guess that means I'm boycotting.

You do down the bay a bit.

Yeah, there's one within a couple miles of Levi's Stadium.

ETA: Yes, to the nuggets, preferably with buffalo sauce. Waffle fries, too.

Pruitt wrote: ↑Wed Apr 04, 2018 1:55 pm

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Wed Apr 04, 2018 12:08 pm

What most people don't know is that at this point, they've pretty much stopped giving money to anti-gay groups and their official policy is one of inclusion.

So, I used to boycott, but it actually worked (for the most part) so I'm not riding around on a high horse about this joint anymore. I'll take the W and enjoy the best nuggets on the planet.

Well then that's a good story isn;t it? (Being sincere)

Okay then, I will therefore drop my theoretical boycott.

Yeah, it's just that the word to chill with the boycott didn't really get out there. And I think they still give nominal funds to a couple groups that are kind of borderline on this issue, so folks can easily gaslight on it. Plus, I mean, nobody got shitcanned for their remarks or anything. Like someone said upthread, these are still people that pretty clearly don't like The Gays, they just smartened up about having that be an official company line.

Had it for lunch. It was awesome.

I will say that Chick Fil A is far and away the most consistent fast food place. I don't frequent a whole lot of those anymore, but Wendy's - which I generally consider the best option for a drive through burger around here - will throw you a clunker every so often.

Yeah totally aside from the politics, it's just so much better run than the others. And it tastes great. Theres a palpably friendly and helpful feel when you enter the place and thats before you ask for anything or use the bathroom. Just a noticably higher quality employment threshold generally and they let my daughter sell girl scout cookies from their property. You can kick the Christian ethos if you want but all in all it's a plus despite the views on homosexuality and Sunday closings.

Oh yeah. The drive through moves FAST. Without exception around here.

In n out has great service too, but if you live near a chick fil a, you don't live near in n out.

HaulCitgo wrote: ↑Wed Apr 04, 2018 5:12 pm Yeah totally aside from the politics, it's just so much better run than the others. And it tastes great. Theres a palpably friendly and helpful feel when you enter the place and thats before you ask for anything or use the bathroom. Just a noticably higher quality employment threshold generally and they let my daughter sell girl scout cookies from their property. You can kick the Christian ethos if you want but all in all it's a plus despite the views on homosexuality and Sunday closings.

Oh yeah. The drive through moves FAST. Without exception around here.

I agree with you 100% on this. But I still don't frequent it because of their views on the homosexuality and who they gave/give money to.

govmentchedda wrote: ↑Wed Apr 04, 2018 6:48 pm In n out has great service too, but if you live near a chick fil a, you don't live near in n out.

Well, I do. But that’s mostly true.

brian wrote: ↑Wed Apr 04, 2018 10:06 pm

govmentchedda wrote: ↑Wed Apr 04, 2018 6:48 pm In n out has great service too, but if you live near a chick fil a, you don't live near in n out.

Well, I do. But that’s mostly true.

Yeah I don’t know where closest in and out is. I think I had it in Texas?

A_B wrote: ↑Wed Apr 04, 2018 10:14 pm

brian wrote: ↑Wed Apr 04, 2018 10:06 pm

govmentchedda wrote: ↑Wed Apr 04, 2018 6:48 pm In n out has great service too, but if you live near a chick fil a, you don't live near in n out.

Well, I do. But that’s mostly true.

Yeah I don’t know where closest in and out is. I think I had it in Texas?

I think there’s some in Texas but that’s as Far East as it goes. We have Chick-Fil-A and In N Out here and in Phoenix but not sure about LA/SD. Think there might be some Chick Fil A there.