Officials broke ground at the Chick-fil-A restaurant site on U.S. 231 Wednesday. Construction is scheduled to begin this week, and the restaurant is projected to open in October.
“There is a lot of site work to be done, but we anticipate opening at the end of October, the beginning of November,” said Heath Kyle, area operator for the restaurant.
The restaurant is at 1653 Martin St. North and will feature a 4,569-square-foot interior that seats 144, and a drive-thru. It will have an indoor play area that also features an interactive section for toddlers.
“There is usually about a three- to four-month construction phase,” said Kimberly Stanford, area marketing director for Chick-fil-A.
Kyle said the restaurant is the first Chick-fil-A in the Pell City area, with the next closest in Leeds and Oxford.
“We’ve had a lot of customers asking for one out here,” Stanford said. “There is a lot of retail and residential out here to support the restaurant.”
She said the restaurant has a projected sales volume of $3 million a year.
“We will hire about 70-75 employees to start out with,” Kyle said. “We will begin interviewing for employees probably in September, depending on the construction and opening date.”
Stanford said the store will host the “First 100” celebration, which gives away a one-year supply of Chick-fil-A meals (52 certificates) to the first 100 adults in line on opening day.
“We usually have moms and dads and college students and people of all ages,” she said. “They get to camp out and spend the night, and we have lots of games and things to do.”
Kyle said participants must be 18 years or older and have valid photo IDs.
“It’s one big 24-hour party,” he said.
Greater Pell City Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lynn Batemon said the groundbreaking is a great day for the city.
“This is just another show of confidence in Pell City,” she said. “We are continuing to have quality growth in our town. We wish them continued success.”
Mayor Bill Hereford said he is excited to have Chick-fil-A in town.
“It is an honor for us to have Chick-fil-A here,” he said. “It is not just another chicken place. Chick-fil-A holds a lot of meaning to a lot of people.”
Hereford said the city has another strong revenue producer.
“We will do everything we can to help,” he said. “We are delighted to have you all as a good neighbor.”
Contact Elsie Hodnett at ehodnett@dailyhome.com.
