Tom Ashworth and several friends had just finished breakfast Monday in Marietta at a Chick-fil-A on Johnson Ferry Road, pondering the death several hours earlier of restaurant founder S. Truett Cathy.
“We’ve lost a great Christian man,” Ashworth said. “And we’ve lost a man who’s done more for Atlanta than many, many, many of his peers.”
At restaurants and on social media, Cathy, who died early Monday at his Clayton County home, was remembered for family values, philanthropy and a faith that prompted him to keep his restaurants closed on Sundays, despite the loss of business to competitors.
“I hope that even though he’s gone that they continue that tradition of closing on Sundays,” said George Goodhart of Dunwoody, another customer at the Johnson Ferry restaurant.
The company said restaurants will remain closed on Sundays, a practice Cathy said was one of his best business decisions ever, and will continue to be privately held. Despite closing on Sunday, the company had $5 billion in sales last year.
Customers repeatedly said Cathy’s business legacy will be the customer service the 93-year-old entrepreneur insisted the chain’s employees provide each day.
“It’s the atmosphere that when you come into a Chick-fil-A it’s always clean," said Ken Hayes, who had just finished breakfast with Ashworth. "The employees are always helpful and look well-kept. It’s always a good experience when you come to Chick-fil-A.”
Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A has more than 1,800 locations in 40 states and Washington, D.C.
Consumer Reports' most recent survey of thousands of subscribers showed Chick-fil-A continues to beat its rivals when it comes to customer satisfaction with fast-food restaurants in the chicken category. The chain received the highest marks for politeness, speed of service, cleanliness of dining area, and food quality and freshness.
Cathy was also praised for his philanthropy, both in the community through his WinShape Foundation, which funds camps for the underprivileged, and toward Chick-fil-A employees through the company’s Team Member Scholarship program to help workers pursue higher education.
Cathy’s dedication to his faith, which was central to his business decisions, was also noted. The company came under fire last year from the gay and lesbian community after comments made by Cathy’s son and successor, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dan Cathy, about the sanctity of marriage. Critics viewed the comments as an attack on gay rights.
Despite the protests outside Chick-fil-A restaurants, the company reported an increase in sales, though it did not disclose a dollar amount, as Chick-fil-A supporters filled its restaurants to counter the demonstrations.
Monday on Twitter, Cody Gregory said Truett Cathy was “never afraid to stick to his beliefs in a society where morals are easily twisted.”
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