After a long wait, students were finally able to eat at Chick-fil-A. The franchise has been a hot topic for much of the fall semester, with many students wondering aloud why the construction process was taking so long. Originally slated to open in the fall 2014 semester around September, the opening date was pushed to January 2015.

“Based on the proximity of that date to the end of the semester, we made a decision to wait until the spring semester,” said Chief Administrative Officer and Vice President for Administrative Affairs Stacy Volnick.

“That decision was based on construction completion date coupled with the requirement to do full training for every employee that will work in the store.”

The restaurant is an express version of Chick-fil-A, with a smaller menu than regular Chick-fil-A locations. The menu has four food options in total, with prices that match the Boca Town Center Mall location. The menu also has four drink options including fresh brewed tea, lemonade, soft drinks and bottled water — leaving out the regular menu’s milkshake and coffee options.

It is located outside the Wimberly Library, in the location Einstein Brothers Bagels — which took the place of Quizno’s in the Breezeway food court — used to be.

FAU’s Chick-fil-A is run by the same food service provider, Chartwells, that maintains the rest of the campus’ dining options.

Lines of around 100 formed early on Thursday, Jan. 8 for the restaurant, which opened at 11:00 a.m.

“I was very excited for today,” freshman social work student Taylor Ziegler said. “When they said they were gonna move the opening, it made me sad that I wouldn’t have Chick-fil-A.”

The restaurant held multiple promotions opening week, including a scavenger hunt. One-hundred small plush cow toys were hidden throughout various locations on campus, with those who found them getting free food. There was also a cow mascot walking around taking pictures with people in the breezeway.

The change in date did not cost the school any money. “We open locations when they are ready and when we can operate appropriately and optimally,” stated Volnick. “There is no ‘cost’ to Florida Atlantic University for opening early January versus early November.”

The construction cost has not been finalized as of publication time.

“I don’t think that the delay will keep people away,” said Ziegler, who thought the gap between the original and later opening date would add more hype to the grand opening. “I think that made people really wanna come.”

Other students however, didn’t care so much. Ryan Cruz, a junior psychology major hopped into the quickly advancing line and told the UP that the delayed opening didn’t phase him. “I thought it was already open.”