After 25 years, the Chick-fil-A at Augusta Exchange has made a big move south. The chain restaurant celebrated the grand opening at its new location, Thursday morning… on the other side of the Augusta Exchange.
A celebratory ribbon-cutting was followed by long lines and a crowd of eager dine-in customers at the refurbished location, once the site of the O’Charley’s restaurant. The Augusta planning department received plans last fall to move the chain restaurant’s location from the intersection of Robert C. Daniel Jr. Parkway at Walton Way Extension further south, where Robert C. Daniel meets Wheeler Road.
“The community was what prompted the move. The community was what prompted the conversation,” said owner Kenny Hanna, who opened the Augusta Exchange Chick-fil-A in January of 2000. “We essentially outgrew that lot down there, and we needed to come we needed to find a bigger spot.”
The new site boasts more space—nearly two acres versus the former 1.05 acres—making room for 76 parking spots, rather than the previous 38, and an upgrade from roughly 2,500 square feet to approximately 6,100 square feet, complete with a dining area that seats over 100 and a larger playroom.
The new building’s iteration of Chick-fil-A’s renowned drive-thru allows for a stack of some 46 vehicles, whereas the smaller former space made room for just 12 cars.
Services such as Chick-fil-A mobile, allowing customers to make their orders ahead of coming to the drive-thru through a mobile app, catering delivery and Chick-fil-A delivery—what Hanna describes as the chain’s equivalent to DoorDash—are carrying over to the new location, the latter to start on Monday.
Between last fall and the grand opening, the restaurant has built its staff to 110, though Hanna says 120 employees is his goal.
Hanna, with his wife, is also a foster parent, and is a supporter of Bridge Builder Communities, which recently broke ground on its tiny home village in development for those aging out of foster care. He’s looking forward to having a greater impact on the community, he said, with the renewed franchise location will host “more family events and gatherings.”
“You get better, people will demand you get bigger,” said Hanna, quoting former Chick-fil-A CEO Truett Cathy. “That’s what happened in this instance.”
Chick-fil-A Augusta Exchange is now located at 276 Robert C. Daniel Pkwy.
Skyler Andrews is a reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
