Proposed Chick-fil-A Walnut Creek location gets pushback from residents
(KRON) — No matter the time of day, it seems like the drive-thru at the Chick-fil-A in Walnut Creek is always busy. It’s not often you’ll see either the drive-thru or dining areas empty on days of operation from Monday to Saturday.
Chick-fil-A, a popular Georgia-based chicken sandwich chain, is “actively pursuing” to open a second restaurant in Walnut Creek. The project was discussed in a March 14 city council meeting.
“While we are still early in the process, Chick-fil-A is happy to share that we are actively pursuing a new location in Walnut Creek,” a statement from Chick-fil-A sent to KRON4 reads in part. “We look forward to working through the approval process with the City of Walnut Creek and are excited by the prospect of a second restaurant in this community.”
However, not everyone is happy about it.
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The restaurant would be a 5,363-square-foot building at the corner of Oak Grove Road and Citrus Avenue, replacing an 8,276-square-foot Bank of America building, according to city documents. This Chick-fil-A will only offer dine-in and take-out services — no drive-thru.
Walnut Creek residents are concerned about safety and traffic impacts this Chick-fil-A will potentially have as there is a Safeway, Whole Foods, Crunch Fitness and several other businesses in the area. There are also about a dozen schools within a mile radius.
A survey by a group of concerned residents against the Chick-fil-A project began to percolate within the East Bay community. The group’s concern is about the number of cars and pedestrians traveling in “one of the busiest and most dangerous intersections,” which will “make the situation exponentially worse.”
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Walnut Creek City Councilmember Kevin Wilk said the project “will be coming to city council on appeal in May.” He declined to comment any further on the matter.
The project will require the removal of trees, new landscaping and modifications to the site layout, city documents say. At this time, it is unknown how far along the Chick-fil-A project is.
Chick-fil-A currently has one Walnut Creek location open from Monday to Saturday at 2750 N Main St.
KRON4 reported last winter that a Chick-fil-A in Concord will be opening sometime in 2024. The restaurant is still under construction, and it is unknown what date it will open.
Chick-fil-A says it offers “a portfolio of restaurant formats” to serve the needs of each neighborhood. Some locations will have a drive-thru, and some will not. The proposed Walnut Creek restaurant will not have a drive-thru. However, a drive-thru-only Chick-fil-A opened in Riverside, CA in February.
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