Chick-fil-A Kicks Off Countdown to Opening New Restaurant in Wallingford

Gearing up for opening up its new restaurant in Wallingford later this fall, Chick-fil-A officially kicked off its countdown this morning with Owner/Operator Todd Langston briefing community leaders at the site at 1098 North Colony Road about jobs creation and Chick-fil-A’s Connecticut expansion.

Chick-fil-A officials said the restaurant will bring with it more than 100 new jobs and is projected to open within the next two months.

Read more from the press release below:

Chick-fil-A® will open its first restaurants in Connecticut this fall – including a Wallingford location that will bring at least 110 new jobs – harmonizing its award-winning menu and customer service with its tradition of quality and excellence.

Todd Langston, a resident of nearby Farmington, has been selected as Owner/Operator of the new restaurant. He will be joined by community leaders on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at the restaurant site at 1098 North Colony Road at 11:30 a.m., kicking off the official countdown to the grand opening which signals the chain’s continuing expansion into the state.

The new Wallingford stand-alone Chick-fil-A restaurant will be the second of four Connecticut locations slated to open within the next six months. The first, in Brookfield, is scheduled to open Oct. 9, with Wallingford expected to follow later this fall. The chain’s location inside Danbury Fair Mall should open in November and an Enfield stand-alone restaurant is projected to open in early 2015. The Wallingford location will offer interior seating for about 140 with additional patio dining. The restaurant includes dual drive-thru ordering lanes to expand its award-winning drive-thru service. Customers will be able to stay connected through the restaurant’s free Wi-Fi and parents will appreciate the indoor play area that includes an interactive section for toddlers.

The new location, which will create at least 110 new jobs, will make it easier for area residents to “Eat Mor Chikin.” Currently the closest Chick-fil-A restaurant is about 50 miles away in Chicopee, Mass.

Chick-fil-A will celebrate the grand opening of the new Wallingford restaurant by giving away a one-year supply of free Chick-fil-A meals (a digital offer card loaded with 52 free Chick-fil-A meals) to the first 100 adults in line on opening day. The “First 100” celebration draws Chick-fil-A’s most loyal fans who arrive up to 24 hours in advance with tents, TVs, computers, gaming systems and other gear to pass the time while camping out overnight. Since the event began in October 2003, Chick-fil-A has given away almost $21 million in free food. For more information, visit www.chick-fil-a.com/Locations/First-100-Details.

Langston earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of North Carolina in Charlotte and his master’s degree in public relations from American University in Washington, D.C. Langston’s professional background includes a 20-plus year career as an award-winning marketing executive, most recently leading marketing for Stanley Black & Decker at its world headquarters in New Britain. Langston decided to pursue the Chick-fil-A operator opportunity to be able to bring the brand he already admired to New England. Langston, his wife, Carla, and their two children are thrilled to be opening Wallingford’s first Chick-fil-A restaurant.

“Chick-fil-A provides the ideal opportunity to own my own business and have a positive impact in this part of Connecticut,” said Langston. “I couldn’t be more excited to bring Chick-fil-A’s freshly prepared food and signature customer service to Wallingford.”

The newest Connecticut Chick-fil-A is one of 93 stand-alone, in-line and drive-thru restaurants the chain plans to open nationally this year, creating more than 7,000 new jobs. Chick-fil-A continued to grow in 2013, increasing the number of new restaurants initially planned for the year and reporting record-setting annual sales of more than $5 billion.

Chick-fil-A’s signature chicken sandwich was recently named the tastiest chicken sandwich in Consumer Reports 2014 Fast Food Survey of 32,405 readers, repeating the results of the magazine’s last fast food report in 2011. Respondents, who were asked about their experiences at 65 fast food chains, not only said Chick-fil-A’s chicken sandwich was the best tasting but also rated Chick-fil-A as number one overall out of 65 chains in customer service and cleanliness. In addition, the chain was a 2013 winner of Nation’s Restaurant News’ annual recognition of “the best the restaurant industry has to offer.” The annual award, given to five industry recipients this year, honors chains who have a proven track record of leadership, operational excellence, market performance, innovation and community involvement.

Patch file photo

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