VIDEO: Hot chicken giveaway draws crowd to new Pottstown restaurant

POTTSTOWN — What’s better than a nice hot steaming Asad’s Hot chicken sandwich? A free hot, steaming Asad’s Hot Chicken sandwich.

And that’s what people, more than 100 of them, lined up for on Friday.

The restaurant offered free food from 3 to 7 p.m. on its social media pages and if they were trying to create some buzz, it worked.

The line of customers stretched from the rear of the property line, along Wilson Street to the corner with North Charlotte Street, up North Charlotte to the window where the food is delivered.

George Uddens and Jayden Torres had made their way to nearly the front of the line when a reporter asked them why they and their friends were there. Uddens paused a moment while considering the terribly unnecessary question and replied, with gusto, “Free chicken!”

The franchise has many locations in the Philadelphia area and earlier this year, one had to close for a similar grand opening when fights broke out. Security guards were in place Friday but the line seemed well-behaved and the customers were reasonably patient.

Brakarr Wright, 13, was only willing to pause for a moment in the enjoyment of his chicken sandwich to speak to a reporter. Asked how he liked the sandwich, he replied “pretty good” through a mouthful of chicken.

The building at that location has hosted several businesses including a gas station, meat market and deli and Rita’s Water Ice.