Chick-fil-A ‘cell phone challenge’ gains attention on social media. It started in metro Atlanta.

SUWANEE, Ga. — A Chick-fil-A in Maryland has been gaining attention on social media the past  couple days for its “cell phone challenge” which rewards customers with a free Icedream cone if they keep their phones tucked away in a coop during mealtime.

According to the company, it’s an idea that has its roots in metro Atlanta.

11Alive reached out to Chick-fil-A after a picture of the “cell phone challenge” sign at the restaurant in Towson, Maryland went viral on the Complex X account.

“Ask a team member for a coop, place all phones in the coop, and enjoy your meal together,” the sign states. “After you finished let a Team Member know and everyone at the table will receive an Icedream Cone as a reward.”

Among those who noticed the post was Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, who wrote: “More of this! @ChickfilA“

According to Chick-fil-A, it’s not part of a nationwide promotion — as restaurants are locally owned and operated and can independently launch their own initiatives such as this one. The company said in an email the “cell phone challenge” was first done in 2016 by a local operator in Suwanee, Georgia.

And, indeed, there are several reports from a decade ago that credit Brad Williams, the owner/operator of the Moore Road Chick-fil-A, with inventing the challenge. 

“We really want our restaurant to provide a sense of community for our customers, where family and friends can come together and share quality time with one another,” Williams reportedly wrote at the time, adding that the challenge had “completely taken off.”

There wasn’t a ton of reporting on the challenge since then, but back in January the restaurant on Moore Road announced it was bringing the challenge back.

There are varying additional reports out there — another in Duluth also operated by Williams, one in Lionville, Pennsylvania — of Chick-fil-A restaurants adopting the challenge.