Jollibee to open first Calgary store as part of aggressive push

From its beginning in the Philippines in the mid-1970s, fast food restaurant Jollibee, known for fried chicken, pasta and burgers, hits the Calgary market Friday.

The company says Canada has been receptive to its offerings. An Edmonton man waited for three days to be the first in line at the Edmonton opening this summer.

• 3 days outside: Edmonton Jollibee's 1st customer already in line

"At the recent Edmonton opening, the store welcomed 8,000 customers on opening day and the first customer was a local who waited in line for a record three days even though he had never tried Jollibee before," Jollibee said in a Monday statement.

The first Calgary location, at the Pacific Place Mall in the northeast at 999 36th Street N.E., is the company's third opening this month, and they're looking to open 100 new stores in Canada over the next five years.

The store opens Friday at 7 a.m. to the public, but a Facebook contest will see 50 people given access the day before.