Chick-fil-A Offers Free Ice Cream for Phone-Free Family Meals

Maryland restaurant promotes unplugged dining experience with incentive challenge.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 5:39pm

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An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph of a family sitting at a table, their faces and bodies blurred in a soft, warm haze of golden light and color, conveying the idea of unplugged, quality time together.A Chick-fil-A location in Maryland encourages families to unplug and reconnect over a meal by offering free ice cream as a reward for putting away their phones.Towson Today

A Chick-fil-A restaurant in Towson, Maryland is offering families free ice cream if they put away their phones and enjoy their meal together without any digital distractions. The 'Cell Phone Coop Challenge' encourages customers to ask for a 'coop' to store their phones during the meal, and those who complete the challenge will receive complimentary Icedream cones.

Why it matters

The initiative aims to address the growing trend of solo dining and phone usage during shared meals, which studies have shown can negatively impact social skills and quality time with loved ones. By incentivizing families to unplug, the restaurant hopes to promote more meaningful in-person interactions.

The details

The Chick-fil-A Towson Place location is running the 'Cell Phone Coop Challenge', where customers can request a 'coop' to store their phones during their meal. Once the table finishes their food without using their devices, they can notify a team member to receive free Icedream cones as a reward. The restaurant advertised the challenge on social media and through signage in the dining area.

  • The Chick-fil-A Towson Place location launched the 'Cell Phone Coop Challenge' in March 2026.

The players

Chick-fil-A Towson Place

A Chick-fil-A restaurant located in Towson, Maryland that is running the 'Cell Phone Coop Challenge' to encourage families to put away their phones during meals.

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The takeaway

By offering a fun incentive for families to unplug during meals, Chick-fil-A is taking a proactive approach to address the growing issue of phone usage disrupting quality time and social interactions. This initiative could inspire other restaurants to find creative ways to encourage more mindful dining experiences.