McHenry, IL—Chick-fil-A’s famous chicken sandwiches and waffle fries will soon be available closer to home for McHenry residents. During Thursday’s annual State of the City address, the mayor, Wayne Jett, said that the national chain will break ground in March on a new standalone restaurant near the Route 31-Richmond Road and McCullom Lake Road intersection, near U-Haul and Casey’s. The venue is scheduled to open in August or September.
“This has been years in the making,” Jett emphasized, highlighting the city’s prolonged negotiations with the franchise. The development underscores Chick-fil-A’s aggressive Midwest expansion, following recent openings in nearby Elgin (cfaelgin.com) and Schaumburg (chick-fil-a.com). Like those locations, the McHenry restaurant will offer touchless payments, curbside pickup, and catering services.
However, Chick-fil-A’s strategy for expansion dovetails with industry analysts’ predictions that the chain could surpass competitors like McDonald’s in sales in the next ten years — thanks to loyal patrons and carefully plotted market moves (chicagotribune.com). The company, which has more than 2,900 locations across the country, has made Illinois a priority in recent years, with more restaurants planned for Pooler, Georgia, and other states.
Like all Chick-fil-A franchises, the McHenry location will be independently owned and focus on the health and well-being of its employees, with Sundays off and professional development opportunities detailed in the release. Jobseekers are advised to stay tuned for hiring announcements this summer.
Residents eager to taste the chain’s signature chicken won’t have to wait much longer—though they’ll still need to plan around the chain’s famed Sunday closures.
