Chick-fil-A opens first Burlington location today
Published October 3, 2024 at 8:01 am
In one of the most anticipated openings of the year, Chick-fil-A has finally arrived in Burlington after a year of rumours about its entrance into the market.
Today (Oct. 3) is the day the American-based fast-food giant opens its doors and with it comes a lot of hype and some historic controversy.
Local social media channels have been lit up with comments leading up to the opening with the consensus being that many are curious and willing to give it a try.
Tracing its history as far back as 1946 when founder S. Truett Cathy opened his first restaurant in a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia, Chick-fil-A has grown into a global enterprise with over 3,000 restaurants. When it arrived in Toronto in 2019 it was greeted by lengthy line-ups of eager customers anxious to sample the menu.
And that menu is not an extensive one.
Unlike other fast-food chains, Chick-fil-A focuses on chicken — particularly sandwiches — although chicken strips and nuggets are also on the menu along with a few side items.
“It’s all about the chicken,” the late Cathy once said when taking the concept for his business. “That’s what we specialize in and that’s why we think it is the best.”
Cathy also staked his claim as the inventor of the chicken sandwich. While that has been disputed, he has been credited for making the chicken sandwich a restaurant staple.
“I can’t wait,” commented one participant in a Burlington-based Facebook group. “Every time I go to the U.S. I head there (Chick-fil-A). The sandwiches are to die for. I’ve waited at the Toronto location for an hour to get one. They are that good.”
The company has also been a lightning rod for controversy due to Cathy’s adherence to fundamental Christian teachings and opposition to same-sex marriage. Despite boycotts in 2012, supporters rallied and boosted sales for the company. Still, as is company policy, Chick-fil-A does not open on Sundays.
The Burlington restaurant will employ up to 100 workers and will be open for dine-in, pick-up and drive-thru from 10:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
It will be owned and operated by franchisee Wesley Lyon who helped open the Toronto location.
In honour of the new opening, Chick-fil-A will donate about $34,000 to a local non-profit organization, through Second Harvest, one of Canada’s largest food rescue organizations.
The location will also be participating in the Chick-fil-A Shared Table program, an initiative that redirects surplus food from the restaurant to local soup kitchens, shelters, food banks and non-profits in need.
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