‘We need a Chick-fil-A.’ Modesto is ready for restaurant, but do company plans match?
Stanislaus County boasts plenty of fried chicken spots, with a few more on the way — but they’re not Chick-fil-A.
What’s stopping Chick-fil-A, the popular fast food chain known for its signature chicken sandwiches and waffle fries, from opening a location here?
Local Reddit users have taken to the forum to express their desire for a Chick-fil-A.
“Does anyone else wish they put a Chick-fil-A by the new Costco?” Reddit user Boring-Yogurt-8408 wrote in July.
“Surprised Chick-fil-A has not expanded to Stanislaus yet,” user Rochelle-Rochelle responded. “Maybe they have a higher threshold for expansion or franchisee rights are too expensive?”
“Modestians, we need a Chick-fil-A ASAP,” another Reddit user, AlertnativeReality, wrote in April. “I hate driving to Manteca just for that. Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.”
The Modesto Bee reached out to Chick-fil-A and Modesto city officials to find out why the chain hasn’t landed in the area.
Here’s what they had to say:
Is a Chick-fil-A coming to Stanislaus County?
Not anytime soon.
“We are always evaluating potential new locations in the hopes of serving existing and new customers great food with remarkable service,” Chick-fil-A company representatives wrote in an emailed statement to The Bee on Thursday, Aug. 29. “While we hope to serve the Stanislaus County community in the future, we do not currently have any locations to confirm.”
What’s stopping Chick-fil-A from coming to Modesto?
Jessica Hill, Modesto’s director of community and economic development, told The Bee in August that she often receives community requests for a Chick-fil-A.
Although the city has been actively working to make a Chick-fil-A partnership happen, she said, finding the right location has been a challenge.
“For Chick-fil-A, they prefer right off the freeway. They prefer a big enough parcel to accommodate their long drive-thru,” she said. “Trying to find what they’re looking for with the size of parcel has been something that the city of Modesto continues to explore.”
Which restaurant do you most want in Stanislaus County?
Chick-fil-A isn’t the only national restaurant chain that area residents want to see in Stanislaus County.
In 2022, The Bee reported that residents are also eager for The Cheesecake Factory and Cracker Barrel locations to open in the area, as highlighted by the Top 50 national chain restaurants in domestic sales according to Nation’s Restaurant News.
Which major restaurant do you most want in Stanislaus County?
Fill out the form below, click here or email arodriguez@modbee.com to talk about the top chains on your wishlist.
A reporter may reach out to you for a follow-up story or poll.
