Jessie Chesson started out in PGco schools and now is franchise owner in DC. Hubby Karlson is proud
— Kristi King (@king小萝莉影视) 
WASHINGTON 鈥� More than a hundred people, some of whom had been there for more than聽24 hours, camped out聽in sleeping bags, deck chairs and blankets on the sidewalk on 14th聽Street, awaiting Wednesday鈥檚 6 a.m. opening of the District’s first聽Chick-fil-A franchise.
The chicken itself was only part of the appeal: The first 100 people in line got 52 coupons for free meals at the restaurant. The line began before dawn Tuesday.
Howard University student Toby Aderotoye, who was number 71 in line, said, 鈥淚鈥檓 a broke college student, so it鈥檚 awesome.鈥�
The franchise, across from the Columbia Heights Metro station, is owned by Jessie Chesson. She graduated from Howard, earned an MBA at George Washington University and grew up in the Hyattsville area, attending Prince George鈥檚 County Public Schools.
鈥淚t鈥檚 surreal for me鈥� to open a D.C.-area business, she says.
Her advice to others?
鈥淲ork hard; be determined. If I can make it, anyone else can as well.鈥�
小萝莉影视’s Kristi King contributed to this report.
