East County News Service
June 27, 2017 (La Mesa) – The newest Chick-fil-A restaurant in San Diego County has opened. The Grossmont Chick-fil-A at 8200 Fletcher Parkway, La Mesa, recently became the 11th Chick-fil-A restaurant operating in San Diego County.
Ralph Marcarelli of Spring Valley was the first customer in line. Marcarelli was joined later by girlfriend Melissa Lyons who was #94 in line. “We love the food, plus we greatly admire the customer service and family-friendly atmosphere,” said Marcarelli, a retired gourmet chef and restaurant executive who said he managed and consulted for the opening of more than 20 restaurants during his career. “The campout was a great time with contests and games.”
Customers #2 and #3 in line featured a mother-daughter duo (pictured right). Both are school teachers. Alvie Miller, 55, has been teaching for 24 years and currently serves in the Lemon Grove School District. Her daughter, Danielle Miller, 29, teaches first graders at Valencia Park Elementary School in San Diego. “We both love the food at Chick-fil-A,” said Danielle. “The campout was definitely an experience,” said Alvie. “I was able to spend some time studying for my masters degree to become a marriage family therapist.”
Customer #4 was also a school teacher. Jason Robbins teaches government and economics at Steele Canyon High School. He previously spent 10 years teaching at Cajon Valley Middle School. “My brother who lives in Nebraska did the campout there, so I wanted to do it, too.”
Among the activities for campers during the 24-hour campout was packing 10,000 meals that were donated to Feeding Children Everywhere, a nonprofit dedicated to a hunger-free world that focuses on providing healthy meals to hungry families and children in need.
The First 100 Campout is a Chick-fil-A tradition that began in 2003. Chick-fil-A says its First 100 celebrations have resulted in giveaways of free food valued at more than $31 million.
Preciado was born in the Panama Canal Zone while his father was in the U.S. Army. Preciado went on to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and then spent 20 years as an operations executive at various oil and gas, building materials and chemical companies before joining Chick-fil-A.
Becoming a Chick-fil-A Operator is no small feat with the company receiving some 24,000 applications yearly for approximately 100 franchise opportunities. Preciado applied and waited a year before being named the first Hispanic operator in the San Diego area with his Grossmont Chick-fil-A location in La Mesa.
His parents and siblings live in the San Diego area. Three of Preciado’s children will join him at the Grossmont Chick-fil-A location, including daughter, Rebecca, who will serve as marketing director, along with son Ricky and second daughter Sophie as team members.
Chick-fil-A restaurants in San Diego County are located in Chula Vista, Encinitas, Oceanside, San Marcos, Santee, Escondido and in San Diego on Sports Arena Blvd., Camino Ruiz in Mira Mesa, Carmel Mountain Road in Carmel Mountain Ranch and Camino del Sur in 4S Ranch. For addresses and directions, visit www.chick-fil-a.com.
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