Photo/Jim Dean Organizers at the Chick-fil-A grand opening set up games to pass the time. Here, two lines of soon-to-be customers try to pass a hula hoop down their line, without releasing their grip on the person next to them.

Graduation practice can wait.

"I finished my last final exams yesterday and we left right after that," said University of Tennessee student Austin Hebbeler on Wednesday afternoon.

Hebbeler, 23, traveled to Forsyth County from Knoxville, Tenn., for Thursday's grand opening of the new Chick-fil-A off Peachtree Parkway.

Hebbeler and 22-year-old Ben Decker lounged in folding chairs atop the sizzling asphalt with no intention of leaving. Equipped with camping gear, they looked ready for the long haul.

If he weren't at Chick-fil-A, Hebbeler said he would be "going to a graduation rehearsal ceremony right now."

The pair was among about 150 people awaiting the Thursday grand opening of the chicken eatery, part of The Avenue Forsyth, a large, upscale, outdoor shopping mall.

The first 100 customers to arrive at the doors at 6 a.m. were to receive 52 coupons for free combo meals over the course of a year. That equals about one free combo per week, or a few hundred dollars worth of chicken meals.

This particular opening impressed Michael Lage, Chick-fil-A marketing coordinator. He's attended several, but none like this.

"We had about 140 or 150 people when we showed up at 5:30 this morning," he said Wednesday.

"This is the most people we've had sign up the fastest. This is the most people we've had sign up here in the history of the event."

College students from Berry, Clemson, Georgia Tech and North Georgia College & State University formed the majority of the rather fit-looking crowd.

"I try to work out a little," said Hebbeler's athletic-looking travel partner, Decker. "But I like going to Chick-fil-A as much as I can."

The line, which formed more than 24 hours before the opening, resembled a cross between a cookout and party. People brought board games, books and coolers.

Teresa Henderson is no stranger to the spectacle.

The Buford mother of three has been to four Chick-fil-A openings since August, collecting thousands of dollars worth of food. She wore a wristband marked with the number 132.

Wristbands with numbers were distributed to the first 100 people so store employees would know who they were.

"It's not even about the coupons anymore, it's about the fun," said Henderson, dressed like a cow, right down to the hoof-like shoes.

At first, she wasn't too happy about missing the top 100 opportunity. She shrugged and added that she still has a load of coupons from Acworth.

It didn't have a whole lot to do with the food, though.

There is dancing at nightfall, she explained, and the Chick-fil-A cow mascot comes and waltzes with the crowd.

Henderson has realized she isn't doing it for the food anymore. She does it because she loves Chick-fil-A as an entity.

"Every single one, down to the little girl that cleans the bathroom, they're all so genuine," she said. "I love it."

E-mail Lara Moore at laramoore@forsythnews.com.

Originally published Friday, May 9, 2008