Chick-fil-A will open its first stand-alone restaurant Thursday at 109 S. Frontage Road at Meridian Crossroads, giving away $26,000 in free Chick-fil-A food to the first 100 adults in line that morning.

A one-year supply of free Chick-fil-A® Combo Meals (52 coupons) will be awarded to each of the first 100 adults, age 18 and older with identification, at the new stand-alone restaurant. The line can begin forming up to 24 hours prior to the opening, with the prizes being given away on Thursday, between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. The restaurant will open immediately afterward.

“Chick-fil-A’s raving fans have turned our grand openings into overnight tailgate parties, often arriving 24 hours in advance with tents, TVs, sleeping bags, games, computers and other gear to spend the night,” said Chick-fil-A Inc. President Dan Cathy, son of chain founder Truett Cathy.

“When we started the First 100 Fans promotion in 2003, we never could have imagined we’d give away nearly $6 million in free food to raving fans who have camped out in all kinds of weather conditions to win free Chick-fil-A for a year,’’ said Cathy, who regularly attends and camps out overnight in the parking lots.

Brian Russell has been selected as franchised operator of the new restaurant in Meridian. Russell has operated the Chick-fil-A restaurant at Bonita Lakes Mall for nearly five years and will relocate to operate the new Meridian Crossroads location.

“I have had the honor of serving Meridian residents award-winning freshly prepared food and providing ‘my pleasure’ customer service since January of 2003,” said Russell. “My team looks forward to continuing that tradition at our new location.”

The new restaurant is open Monday through Saturday, from 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m., serving a full breakfast menu until 10:30 a.m.