Feb. 18, 2021 By Michael Dorgan
Chick-fil-A, the fast-food chain best known for its chicken sandwiches, is coming to 82nd Street in Elmhurst.
The company will open a new restaurant, located at 40-27 82nd St., on Feb. 24 and customers will get a chance to savor its signature chicken sandwiches, chicken wraps and waffle fries.
The new restaurant will be open Mondays through Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The eatery will initially only be open for takeout and delivery. Customers can order through the Chick-fil-A mobile app for pickups and can use third-party apps for home delivery orders.
The restaurant has yet to announce when it will offer indoor dining.
The new joint will be the company’s first standalone restaurant in Queens. Chick-fil-A operates a space inside the Queens Center that is part of the mall’s food court.
The restaurant will be operated by franchisee owner Aman Mekonen, an Ethiopian immigrant who previously worked with UBS, Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan. Mekonen currently lives in Flushing with his wife and son.
Mekonen said he is looking forward to serving delicious food to the diverse neighborhoods of Elmhurst and Jackson Heights.
“I want my restaurant to be a place where all feel welcomed, respected and honorably served,” Mekonen said.
Chick-fil-A said that the company uses only high-quality ingredients in its food and its chicken are not fed antibiotics. Its salads are made with whole fruits and vegetables that are freshly chopped and prepared, the company said.
Mekonen said he is also excited to hire dozens of new employees at the restaurant where they will work flexible hours with competitive pay and benefits. He said they will also receive hands-on training and mentoring.
To mark the new opening, the company will give away one free Chick-fil-A meal per week for one year to 100 residents who have made an impact in Queens.
Additionally, the company will donate $25,000 to the non-profit Feeding America which fights against hunger. It is a company policy to make such a donation every time it opens a new store.
One Comment
Do they know they are not welcome in Jackson Heights, one of the gayest communities in NYC?
https://www.hilltopviewsonline.com/22859/viewpoints/22859/