On Monday of this week, the renowned fast food restaurant known for quality customer service and poultry produce broke ground to begin construction on a new restaurant in Paris. In spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, those working to erect the soon-to-be local Chick-Fil-A restaurant are working hard in conjunction with the City of Paris to get chicken minis and fresh lemonade into the hands of Lamar County customers.
“If all goes as planned, construction could be complete by the end of this year,” said Carla Easton, the City of Paris engineer. “Their original plan was December, but COVID has affected everyone’s schedules. We understand the Chick-fil-A team is working very hard to open by the end of 2020, and city staff has committed to help with timely inspections and feedback.”
Chick-Fil-A, which is being built adjacent to Shogun Japanese Steak House and Ramseur Baptist Church on Lamar Avenue, is expected to feature several amenities through careful planning and a focus on the store’s quality.
“The project includes the construction of a new 5,191 square feet restaurant with the declared value of $925,000, per the application,” Easton said. “The site will have an extended double drive-thru lane with overflow parking connected to the adjacent church lot, as well as drainage improvements and landscaping.”
From the beginning, Easton said the Chick-Fil-A team was easy to work with, which has made the ongoing process less difficult to manage and work through.
“From the city’s perspective, the process was extremely smooth,” Easton said. “Chick-fil-A has a team of professionals who are well versed in building codes, site requirements, and the permitting process. It started with the application for a zoning change in January 2020, which was unanimously approved by the Planning & Zoning Commission as well as the City Council. The design and planning process followed with no major concerns, and now they have a permit for construction. Let’s hope there are few challenges for the construction crews in the field.”
Chick-Fil-A’s track record and attention to detail give Easton and the rest of the City of Paris employees confidence in the future the restaurant will have with locals.
“This particular chain takes a unique approach to their business management, paying close attention to the location, the operator, and the customer,” Easton said. “I’m confident that the franchise would not have considered Paris if the market wasn’t here to support it. Paris is a mid-sized city with many young families that are on the go and love Chick-fil-A. But more than that, Paris can provide a great place for the company to invest where their employees can become part of a caring community. I think Chick-fil-A will thrive for two reasons: because they have an extremely high standard for customer care and community involvement, which this community will appreciate; and because Paris can provide a quality of life for their employees that meets the same high standard. It’s a win-win.”
