The Denver City Council recently voted to allow Atlanta-based fast food chicken franchisor Chick-fil-A to open a location within Denver International Airport.   The decision was not unanimous, however, with one council member voting against the permit, citing Chick-fil-A’s policy to close on Sunday and another council member declining to vote. This vote comes after a delay in August by council members who had concerns that welcoming the restaurant would fuel “corporate profits used to fund and fuel discrimination” citing comments made a few years ago by Chick-fil-A’s current chief executive officer, Dan Cathy, who opposes same-sex marriage on religious grounds. The delay was widely publicized in the media including the Wall Street Journal who described the outcry as “absurd,” and called on lawyers to remind the city council of the First Amendment.

This is not the first time that Cathy’s personal beliefs caused problems with restaurant openings as Chick Fil A expands its franchise concept beyond historically conservative markets. Last weekend, Chick Fil A’s first location in New York City opened in Manhattan to protests. Prior to that Boston mayor Thomas Merino said he would forbid Chick-fil-A from opening in the city unless its policies changed. Chicago and San Francisco also said the corporation’s values did not line up with their cities’.

Chick-Fil-A, however, has weathered the storms successfully. It responded to the Denver controversy by saying that its corporation and franchises “are equal opportunity employers” with workers “who represent many diverse viewpoints, opinions, backgrounds and beliefs.” Despite outcry over Cathy’s views, the franchise system’s city locations (including Chicago and newly opened New York) are doing well and Chick-Fil-A is poised for further expansion.

It also doesn’t hurt that Chick-Fil-A’s southern-styled fried chicken sandwich is considered the most delicious in the fast food industry. For franchise systems whose products do not have such a cult like following, it is important to carefully consider the negative impact its executive officers’ personal views on public issues may have on a system. For a less popular franchisor, entering into a public debate with such polarizing views could prove fatal.  Even Chick-Fil-A quickly deleted tweets by Cathy that criticized a Supreme Court ruling that found same-sex couples were entitled to federal benefits. The franchisor also stopped donating to organizations with strong positions against same sex marriage.