Chick-fil-A hosted its grand reopening Thursday morning after a six-month hiatus. Fanfare marked the celebration with appearances by cheerleaders from Tutt Middle School and Westside High School, as well as Westside’s NJROTC.
“There’s no doubt that today marks a special time in my journey,” said owner operator John Powell.
The restaurant acquired the adjacent property to its left, and announced in April that it would be closing down for renovations. The fast-food eatery used that new space, formerly the site of Mexican restaurant Mi Rancho, to expand its parking and install a new drive-thru. The two new drive-thru lanes lead to a more convenient traffic light at Washington Road.
The building itself was torn down and rebuilt and now has a more spacious dining area and an updated kitchen, which was already bustling on its first day.
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Before the refurbished store’s ribbon cutting, John Powell summarized the story of how he became a Chick-fil-A owner-operator in Augusta, noting he felt that “God revealed a new plan” for him, some 22 years ago.
“To me, it was just the place to eat a sandwich,” he said, adding that he would eat up to two sandwiches a day during high school football. “It’s not only been for others, but I have personally grown.”
While John Powell is operating the location, his son, J.T. Powell, is his managing partner. The Powell family greeted visitors and media in the hour leading up to the official first opening, with a “first bite ceremony,” tasting the first of the store’s signature chicken sandwiches.
At about 10:30 a.m., staff, most of whom were hired in recent weeks (a “we’re hiring” sign is still on display alongside the signage), announced after that Chick-fil-A at 3066 Washington Rd. was officially opened for business.
Chick-fil-A on Washington Road is open Monday through Saturday, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
