New Chick-fil-A To Open In Smithtown

SMITHTOWN, NY - A new Chick-fil-A restaurant will be opening in Smithtown.

The chain restaurant will be opening at the former shopping center on 534 Smithtown Bypass.

A representative from Chick-fil-A, Jackie Jags, confirmed the eatery will open next year.

"We are always evaluating potential new locations in hopes of serving existing and new Long Island customers great food with remarkable service," Jags said in a statement. "We look forward to sharing additional information about the franchise owner, hiring and grand opening dates in the future."

This will mark the fourth Chick-fil-A for Long Island with locations in Hicksville, Commack and Port Jefferson.

However, not everyone is thrilled with the new arrival of the new 4,650 square-foot restaurants opening in the 15,743-square-foot shopping center.

After the last business in the center, Hot Bagels, announced its closure in 2016, nearly 5,000 residents signed an online petition to keep the popular bagel shop in business, according to a report in TBR News Media.

However, Chick-fil-A was approved for a zoning change to allow a drive-thru.

Despite the victory, local business owners in the adjacent shopping center expressed their concerns for their businesses during construction, TBR News Media reports.

“It’s going to kill my business, or at least hurt my business with all the construction going on,” Tony Barbato, the owner of Ciro’s Pizza, told TBR News Media. “I think the chicken shop coming in is the stupidest thing ever. Everybody in that shopping center was pretty successful, but then they threw everybody out so they could send more money to [a national corporation] instead of keeping it local.”

Photo credit: David Allen/Patch