FOLEY — Chick-Fil-A in Foley had a steady stream of business Wednesday, thanks to a nationwide call to designate the day as “Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day.”

That call came from 2008 Republican presidential candidate and Fox News talk-show host Mike Huckabee when he posted the idea in a Facebook campaign.

“I ask you to join me in speaking out on Wednesday, Aug. 1, ‘Chick Fil-A Appreciation Day,’” Huckabee wrote on the campaign post. “No one is being asked to make signs, speeches or openly demonstrate. The goal is simple: Let's affirm a business that operates on Christian principles and whose executives are willing to take a stand for the godly values we espouse by simply showing up and eating at Chick Fil-A on Wednesday, Aug. 1.”

The campaign came on the heels of backlash against the Atlanta-based restaurant franchise by gay-rights advocates last month when Chick-Fil-A President Dan Cathy told the Baptist Press that the company endorses the “biblical definition of a family,” meaning same-sex marriage is frowned upon.

Chick-Fil-A got further national attention when ties with Jim Henson Co. were severed, also last month.

“Chick-Fil-A made the choice to voluntarily withdraw the Jim Henson Kid’s Meal puppets for potential safety concerns for our customers on Thursday, July 19,” a statement on the company’s website reads. “On July 20, Chick-Fil-A was notified of the Jim Henson Company’s decision to no longer partner with us on future endeavors.”

The controversy has propelled supporters of Cathy, who is known for operating Chick-Fil-A on “biblical principles,” as the Chick-Fil-A website states, to descend on locations throughout the nation on Wednesday.

Foley’s location was no exception. According to Chick-Fil-A Senior Leader Jordan Fiala, the site had between 1,000 and 2,000 customers by mid-afternoon Wednesday. However, he was hesitant to credit the turnout to Huckabee’s Facebook campaign or to say whether the number of customers was unusual.

“I can’t answer that,” he said in an interview at the restaurant.

However, Foley Police Chief David Wilson did confirm that the traffic flow surrounding the restaurant was unusual.

“We had to put a police officer at Chick-Fil-A due to heavy traffic,” he said via email.

That traffic translated to a full parking lot and constant line of vehicles. But vacationing customer Shannon Day didn’t mind.

“It was still excellent service,” the Jasper resident said in an interview outside of Chick-Fil-A. “The most I had to wait to get my food was 10-15 minutes.”

Day said she and her six family members were among those eager to take part in the special day.

“To support Cathy’s stance on marriage,” she said. “We believe marriage is between a man and a woman, and he (Cathy) has such extraordinary Christian values.”

But not every customer Wednesday shared that view.

“I support gay marriage,” Foley resident Cory Christensen said on his way into the restaurant. “It’s not me, but I support it.”

His friend and fellow Foley resident Maison Taylor agreed.

“I’ve got a cousin, who’s gay,” he said.

Their views didn’t prevent the friends from visiting Chick-Fil-A Wednesday.

“I don’t think they should be boycotted because of it,” Christensen said. “They treat me like family. Every time I go in, they know my name.”

“Chick-Fil-A’s the best,” Taylor added.

Although not every customer at the Chick-Fil-A in Foley was fazed by the controversy, it seems Huckabee’s call to support the franchise was a success.