Is Victory Ahead in Chick-fil-A's Marriage Battle in Denver?

News Staff : Sep 2, 2015
CBN News

"I don't have any concerns about moving forward based on what I've learned in the last two weeks."

(Colorado)—[CBN News] The Denver Business Development Committee voted unanimously to approve Chick-fil-A's request for a seven-year lease at Denver International Airport (DIA).

The vote now goes to the full city council, where it's expected to be approved.

The committee originally put a two-week hold on the request based on Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy's support of "Biblical" marriage between one man and one woman.

Several Denver city council members initially expressed concern that a Chick-fil-A restaurant at the airport would damage the city's reputation.

But Robin Kniech, an openly gay member of the committee, said her concerns were alleviated by Chick-fil-A's non-discrimination policy.

"I don't have any concerns about moving forward based on what I've learned in the last two weeks," she said, citing the restaurant's "very strong non-discrimination policy," The Denver Post reported.

Chick-fil-A applied for a seven-year concession lease at DIA's Concourse B food court, along with several other potential vendors. DIA concession officials selected Chick-fil-A because it received the second highest number of votes in a 2013 survey. The survey dealt with potential eatery options.

Chick-fil-A is closed on Sundays, but DIA officials believe the restaurant will bring in more money for the city than concessions that are open seven days a week.

The airport franchise is expected to generate $4.1 million in its first year. Thirty Chick-fil-A franchises are already open in the metro-Denver area, the company's restaurant locator shows.

Assistant City Attorney David Broadwell told the committee he was shocked by the talk over the contract and this was the first time he had seen a controversy like this "in all my years," The Denver Post reported.