New Madison Chick-fil-A location opens in Clift Farm today
By MARIA RAKOCZY
MADISON – After 22 years at 7885 Highway 72 West, the Chick-fil-A location in Madison has reopened today in Clift Farm, also on Highway 72. The move is the result of outgrowing the old location.
Marketing Director for the local Chick-fil-A franchise, Katie Bentley, explained the previous building was meant to accommodate three million customers per year, but the Madison location nearly tripled that, serving eight million customers annually in recent years.
The Chick-fil-A team has worked hard to increase efficiency and improve guest experience in a number of ways in the new location. The most obvious change is in the drive-thru. While the drive-thru at the original location accommodated 21 cars, the new one is a double lane and built to fit 48 vehicles, twice the previous capacity.
Bentley believes, “It opens up a lot of space for better processes.”
One such process is the replacement of the drive-thru window with a door. This allows employees to personally serve more cars at one time. The new setup has the staff in mind as well. Canopies with heating and cooling systems are in place to keep employees who are working outside safe throughout the year. A speaker box is still in place for times of inclement weather.
The property is located in front of the Publix shopping center and is accessible through a side road. The original location’s entrance was directly off of Highway 72 and at peak times, created congestion on the road, but the new restaurant’s location on a side road will hopefully ease the flow of traffic on Highway 72.
The parking lot adjacent to the restaurant is bigger than the original and built to facilitate a better flow of traffic with the drive-thru. Designated parking spaces for mobile order pickup were built into the new parking lot as well.
Inside the restaurant, flow and efficiency was also a concern addressed by the layout of the counter and seating area. The line for ordering is to the left of the entrance lobby and the dining area is to the right. There is a new, designated counter for catering pickups to decrease the wait time in line. The seating area inside is also larger than the old location, and a new outdoor patio adjacent to the restaurant provides even more seating.
The restaurant’s interior is adorned with special touches from peach basket lighting to a handcrafted light fixture featuring melted down coke bottles. Both pay tribute to Chick-fil-A’s Georgia roots and founder Truett Cathy’s first job selling coke bottles.
A handcrafted light fixture featuring melted down coke bottles pays homage to founder Truett Cathy.
Another meaningful touch is the long, wood table near the front of the restaurant. It was handcrafted by artisans from A Better Way Ministries, an organization that supports struggling individuals. Both craftsman and table have incredible stories of recovery that are commemorated by a plaque on the table for guests to view.
Though there are a lot of new features in the restaurant, some things will look familiar to regular patrons. The new location will have a revamped play land for children, and will continue offering their delivery service within an 8-mile radius of the restaurant. Bentley says that some of the details in the décor will remain the same, such as, the wood paneling in the entrance and the red tile in the restrooms.
Bentley said every Chick-fil-A should convey a feeling of familiarity, “When you walk into any Chick-fil-A you should associate it with “This looks familiar.”
She also said the Chick-fil-A team is incredibly grateful for the new space and wants people to feel cared for when they visit. They are planning to celebrate the grand opening today, June 30, with cow hats for kids and with the Bob Jones High School color guard to raise the flag for the first time. They will also be gifting free Chick-fil-A for a year to special members of the community in a series to be spotlighted on social media.
Bentley added the dining room and play land will be at 100% capacity for the opening day, and staff will be sanitizing and making guests feel safe throughout.
For more information, updates, and employment opportunities at Chick-fil-A Madison find them on social media @cfamadisonal and online at www.cfarestaurant.com/madison.
