9.3.19 Bee-otch of the Day: Chick-fil-A

BECOME AN AFFILIATE OF T-SHIRT HELL AND MAKE SOME MONEY!

Bee-otch of the Day honors are awarded Monday through Thursday; Bee-otch of the Week is awarded Sunday morning on Chuck69.com.

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Name: Chick-fil-A
Age: 73
Occupation: fast food hell
Last Seen: Atlanta, GA
Bee-otched For: wanting to tear down a Shack
 

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For more than 40 years, the Flap Jack Shack has been to Traverse City as Mom, Apple Pie and Chevrolet has been to the rest of America.

James Bender opened his first Flap Jack Shack in 1975 in downtown Traverse City's Arcade Building. Eventually, he started building standalone restaurants all over northern Michigan. However, in the 2000s, they eventually started selling off all their restaurants. In 2011, their most-iconic location at US 31 South in Traverse City closed due to Bender's health issues.

Thankfully, not long after Flap Jack Shack closed their doors, they reopened thanks to Grand Rapids restaurateur Jeff Lobdell. His company, Restaurant Partners, has a similar business model to Howard Schelde's popular chain of restaurants which he sold off several years ago. Lobdell also owns Boone's Prime Time Pub, and Apache Trout Grill also in Traverse City and Beltline Bar, Pete's Grill and Tavern, Sundance Grill and Bar, Rockwell Republic, Bagel Beanery, Grand Coney, Red Geranium and Noble Restaurants in Grand Rapids. His biggest chain is The Omelette Shoppe, which has locations in both GR and TC. As a matter of fact, he was considering converting Flap Jack Shack into an Omelette Shoppe, but didn't want to compromise the brand.

Thanks to Lobdell's management, Flap Jack Shack's last remaining location has been a success. Lines go out the door in the morning - especially on weekends - and the place stays busy well into the afternoon. Although remodeled, their building has a lot of vintage aesthetics, all the way down to the lantern that hangs from their front roof. They are pretty much TC's version of IHOP, though they are not open 24 hours per day. TC does have a Denny's, though it's not doing all that well. Plus, they are now only open for lunch and breakfast.

Now, that iconic 1970s diner is planning its demise so those up north can Eat Mor Chikin.

Chick-fil-A has announced plans to buy the FJS property and demolish it to make way for one of their restaurants. According to Lobdell, the Atlanta-based chain has been planning to expand into northern Michigan for years. Oddly enough, the FJS property wasn't even for sale. Lobdell plans to keep FJS in business by moving it to a smaller, more-efficient building, though some will agree that one reason they stay in business is because of its 1970s charm.

On September 11, representatives for Chick-fil-A will stand in front of Garfield Township commissioners in hopes of rezoning the property from local commercial to general commercial. But given Chick-fil-A's long history of playing God, I hope some folks will go to the meeting and knock some sense into the minds of the commissioners.

For years, the family that owns Chick-fil-A, the descendants of founder Truett Cathy have been known for their negative views on the LGBTQ community. The family is known for giving to many far-right groups like the Family Research Council and Focus on the Family. Of course, the chain closes their stores on Sundays because of religious reasons.

What's funny is that this is a family that blasts homosexuals - whom are attacked in newer translations of The Bible - and yet, Truett's two sons are worth $10 billion. Um, ever hear about that story about Jesus and the rich, young man? Ever hear of Jesus saying to him, "it's easier for a camel to go through an eye of a needle than for a rich man to go to Heaven"? Funny how these King James dickwads will believe in a translation of The Bible that was written for a king and use it to attack women, people of color and yes, homosexuals. Of course, Chick-fil-A is owned by southerners, which explains a lot.

Sadly, there's a lot of food chains that don't have locations in TC. I'm looking at TGI Fridays, Chipotle, the aforementioned IHOP and even Five Guys. Let's not forget Popeye's, either. But yet, the city will have its first fucking Chick-fil-A in two years. And to me, that's a slap in the face. Sad that FJS's days are numbered, but that's life sometimes. It's sad that already, rock concerts in the Grand Traverse area are too far and too in between thanks to Streeters' conversion into a megachurch. And now, the Flap Jack Shack is going to be toast all in the name of some asshole southerners who use The Bible to hurt the most-vulnerable.

Where's the Chicken Coop where you need them?

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