In a move to bring families back to the dinner table, a Georgia Chick-fil-A owner has launched a new challenge that trades screen time for sweets.
Brad Williams, who operates two locations in the state, introduced the "Cell Phone Coop", a small box placed on every table designed to hold smartphones during a meal.
If a family successfully finishes their chicken sandwiches without touching their devices, every member of the group is rewarded with a free ice cream cone.
The "technology timeout" currently stands as a primary initiative for Williams to help his guests "be present where their feet are."
Its primary mandate involves a simple three-step process: diners must turn their phones to silent, place them inside the wire-decorated box, and leave them there until the tray is cleared.
_ _“It just got me thinking how to get people to disconnect in order to connect,” Williams stated, noting that he was inspired after seeing a mother spend an entire meal on her phone instead of talking to her children.
The program will also absorb and expand upon the restaurant's reputation for family-friendly service.
A critical component of the "spicy" success of the project is its rapid growth; since the first coops were hand-made in mid-January, over 10,000 boxes have been produced.
Nearly 200 independent Chick-fil-A operators across the country have already requested the coops for their own locations.
One local regular cited the "free ice cream" as the primary reason her teenagers are actually willing to put their phones away for thirty minutes.
One of the most immediate challenges for the program is breaking the "digital habit" that many diners bring into the fast-food environment.
Observers cited the "ritual of conversation" as the primary goal of the change, with Williams reporting a noticeable increase in "chatter and laughter" in his dining rooms.
“We’re trying to slowly create disciplines that will create habits,” he explained, hoping that the "no-cellphone zone" becomes a standard part of the Chick-fil-A experience.
The establishment of this "coop challenge" follows a series of local Pinterest-inspired designs that Williams worked on with a local printer.
While the program is currently optional and led by individual store owners, the emphasis from the corporate office remains on fostering a "community-first" atmosphere.
Director-level operators in Georgia have pledged to keep the coops stocked as more families sign up for the challenge.
As the boxes begin to appear in more states, the question remains: “Can a simple cardboard box and a scoop of ice cream really fix the way we talk to each other, or are we too addicted to our screens to win the challenge?” a question that thousands of parents will be testing out this week.