Balloons hung in the air and cake was served Tuesday, but restaurant officials at Chick-fil-A on U.S. 72 in Athens are concerned about a cloud over a party celebrating the chain’s fifth anniversary in the city.

“It’s been an intense week for us,” said the Athens franchise’s marketing director, Lisa Norris, in between smiles and handing out slices of cow-spotted cake.

Social media outlets have been aflutter the past two weeks over comments made by the fast food giant’s CEO Dan Cathy in support of traditional marriage. From Limestone County residents to A-list celebrities, social media users have taken to Facebook, Twitter and blogs to debate Cathy’s comments. Many have taken a pledge to not spend another dollar there, while others shout they will “Eat mor chikin.”

Matthew Kyle, manager of the Athens franchise, said the timing was unfortunate for his store, which brings in a fair amount of traffic — and sales tax revenue — from travelers on nearby Interstate 65.

The discussion started July 16, when Cathy told a reporter with the Baptist Press the company was “guilty as charged” when it came to concerns over their official view on what defines a marriage.

Cathy, son of Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy, told the reporter his corporation supports “the biblical definition of the family unit,” and will do everything to strengthen that idea.

Opponents to this statement have accused Cathy of being anti-gay and his restaurants as homophobic. Proponents came to Cathy’s defense, and said his First Amendment rights are being violated.

Opponents say, however, the issue isn’t free speech but that Cathy is known to use the money he gets from the restaurants to donate to organizations accused of denying homosexuals equal rights.

Supporters fire back that people with different sexual orientations have never been denied service or employment at Chick-fil-A.

The Associated Press reported Tuesday morning that members of the University of Alabama in Huntsville’s Gay Straight Alliance want their campus Chick-fil-A shut down. The group plans to file complaints with managing firm Sodexho because the restaurant doesn’t comply with the university’s non-discrimination policy.

Chick-fil-A supporter Rob Phraner plans to keep buying from the Athens store. He said the principles of a restaurant owner are not what going out to eat is about.

“I’m glad that Chick-fil-A stands for positive principles,” he said, adding that he sees positive actions coming from the restaurant like fundraisers in the community for sick children and school nights. “I think we can be pro-traditional family without being anti-gay; I think that’s possible.”

Despite the recent publicity, the furor isn’t recent news. In March, contestants on Logo TV’s reality series “RuPaul’s Drag Race” made a parody commercial for the company featuring men dressed in drag eating chicken sandwiches as a way of protest.

Fox News host and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee recently proclaimed on his show that today should be Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day, and urged his viewers to show their support.

“There’s no need for anyone to be angry or engage in a verbal battle,” Huckabee wrote on the event’s Facebook page. “Simply affirm appreciation for a company run by Christian principles by showing up on Wednesday, August 1 or by participating online – tweeting your support or sending a message on Facebook.”

The appreciation day event is not sponsored or endorsed in any way by the company.

“I will continue to eat at Chick-fil-A because I like their food,” said Athens native Ashley Boyer, who also supports gay marriage.

Boyer, like many who do not see a problem with what Cathy said, say they will continue to eat where they want, despite the beliefs of the business owner.

“I do think sometimes, as a business owner, some things are better left unsaid,” she said.