Chick-Fil-A Supporters Fill Rofo Location

Last updated 1:05 a.m. Thursday

The culture wars arrived in the Spring-Ford area in a big way on Wednesday, as supporters of the beleaguered Chick-Fil-A fast food chain filled at lunchtime, resulting in long lines and traffic tie-ups in the local shopping center.

According to the Huffington Post, former Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee declared Wednesday "Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day" in support of recent statements made by Chick-Fil-A President and COO Dan Cathy, who expressed the company's official support for the "biblical" definition of marriage between one man and one woman. The remarks resulted in a firestorm of public criticism for the company.

Traffic for the Chick-Fil-A drive-through window circled the building and spilled out onto Buckwalter Road, the main road through the Limerick Square shopping center.

The line to order food inside stretched from the counter out the front door.

Limerick Township police officer Pat Roche said that Chick-Fil-A had called the police department for help with the traffic. 

One customer, who gave her name as Arlene, told Patch, "This isn't a hate thing, just making a stand."

Several customers said everyone had been "really nice". Roche said there had been no incidents, and that police were there only because the restaurant was concerned about the congestion.

Another customer waiting in line said she was there to support Chick-Fil-A.

"I wouldn't wait in line with two kids if not for a cause. This is nice to see," she said. 

Several people had come from other towns to eat at the restaurant, and at least one man had eaten "breakfast at another one this morning and lunch here this afternoon."

Hans Scherer, a Sassamansville resident, said "I am supporting the right to free speech."

"I don't want the state telling any business what to do," said customer David Bechtel. Customer Russ Reed agreed, saying "I'm with him. This is a great thing."

Cathy Harris, waiting in the drive-through line, said "I don't like them being threatened [for what they believe]. I don't like that this restaurant could be in trouble for Christian values."

Similar scenes played out in and at the chain's locations across the country.

made headlines by announcing his store's sponsorship of a local "gay pride" event.

Other groups are planning "" on Friday.

Employees and managers inside the Royersford store declined to speak to a Patch reporter Wednesday.

In a corporate statement handed to press, Chick-Fil-A Executive Vice President of Marketing Steve Robinson wrote, "Going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena."