NEW YORK, 2016-Aug-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — Chick-fil-A, Inc. has selected Queens resident Paul Daniels as the local franchise owner of its third New York City restaurant – Chick-fil-A at Queens Center Mall – set to open on Thursday, Sept. 1. Daniels has a long history of experience in the quick-service industry, including as a Chick-fil-A Team Member and later as Director of Operations at two Chick-fil-A restaurants in Waco and Odessa, Texas. Between those two stints with Chick-fil-A, Daniels seized the opportunity to move abroad to be a general manager for London’s EAT. The Real Food Company, where he managed day-to-day operations of three restaurants throughout Central and West London.
A Texas native, Daniels relocated to Queens with his wife, Taryn, to open Chick-fil-A at Queens Center Mall and lives a short 8-minute walk from the restaurant. In addition to his vast restaurant experience, Daniels’ work abroad in two of London’s most international neighborhoods was an experience that left him eager to live in and serve the diverse population of Queens. He will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the restaurant, as well as employing approximately 80 full- and part-time employees, building relationships with local organizations and businesses, and serving guests.
“Queens is a thriving global community, and my goal for this restaurant is to establish a global family. I want to make sure that my team members seize the opportunity to learn from one another and embrace the qualities that make each one of us unique,” Daniels says. “I look forward to creating a fun, rewarding workplace and to seeing what my team members can achieve. I’d love to see them grow with Chick-fil-A and to realize the opportunity that they, too, can one day become an entrepreneur and own their own Chick-fil-A franchise.”
Part of Daniels’ role as Operator of Chick-fil-A at Queens Center Mall will be developing and retaining top talent. At Queens Center Mall, team members will be hired locally and paid above the $12 minimum wage slated to go into effect in December 2016. To help its team members pay for college, the restaurant will also offer the opportunity for college scholarships through the restaurant company’s national scholarship program, which has provided more than $30 million to its team members since its inception. As with all Chick-fil-A restaurants, team members are guaranteed Sundays off.
As part of its Grand Opening, the restaurant will bring Chick-fil-A’s signature “First 100” celebration to Queens, giving 100 adults the chance to win free Chick-fil-A meals for a year. The First 100 celebration will transform an entire level of the Queens Center Mall parking garage into a family-friendly campout as the crowd awaits the opening and their shot at 52 free Chick-fil-A meals.
The First 100 event will award more than $37,000 in free food to 100 local residents. A digital offer card loaded with a one-year supply of free Chick-fil-A Meals will be given to each of the first 100 eligible adults, ages 18 and older with identification, in line when the doors open at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 1. If more than 100 people are on-site when the line officially forms at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 31, then all 100 spots will be determined by a drawing held that evening. Those selected will camp out in the parking garage to secure their spot.Because the First 100 event is designed to introduce local residents to Chick-fil-A, the event is only open to guests residing in the five boroughs of New York City. A complete listing of eligible zip codes and rules can be found at Chick-fil-A.com/Locations/Openings. A Chick-fil-A meal, snacks and all-night activities will be included in the campout.
Chick-fil-A at Queens Center Mall will be the third Chick-fil-A restaurant in New York City and is the company’s first restaurant in the borough of Queens. Like its NYC counterparts at 37th and 6th and 46th and 6th, Chick-fil-A at Queens Center Mall will partner with New York Common Pantry, a local organization committed to reducing hunger throughout New York City, to donate surplus food. Last year, New York Common Pantry distributed over 3 million meals and served over 70,000 low-income New Yorkers. To date, the New York City Chick-fil-A restaurants have donated more than 2,400 pounds of food to New York Common Pantry since September 2015.
Nearly everything on the Chick-fil-A menu is made from scratch daily, including salads made from whole vegetables and fruits that are hand-chopped throughout the day. The lemonade is fresh-squeezed and is made from three simple ingredients: lemon, sugar and water. Like all Chick-fil-A restaurants, the chicken served at Chick-fil-A at Queens Center Mall will be 100 percent whole breast meat, without any fillers, hormones or additives. Each chicken breast is hand-breaded to order and pressure cooked in 100 percent refined peanut oil, which is naturally trans-fat- and cholesterol-free. By the end of 2019, every Chick-fil-A restaurant will serve chicken raised without antibiotics.
The restaurant will source its bread locally by purchasing the buns for its signature sandwiches from Automatic Rolls of New Jersey and the flatbread for its low-calorie wraps from Damascus Bakery in Brooklyn.
Chick-fil-A at Queens Center Mall will be open from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday beginning Sept. 1.
Guests are encouraged to visit NYCCFA.com and the restaurant’s Facebook page for the latest information leading up to grand opening and details on the First 100 celebration. Those interested in joining the team at Chick-fil-A at Queens Center Mall can apply at jobs.nyccfa.com.
About Chick-fil-A, Inc.
Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A, Inc. is a family owned and privately held restaurant company founded in 1964 by S. Truett Cathy. Devoted to serving the local communities in which its franchised restaurants operate, and known for its original chicken sandwich, Chick-fil-A serves freshly prepared food in more than 2,000 restaurants in 43 states and Washington, D.C.
Chick-fil-A system sales exceeded $6 billion in 2015, which marks 48 consecutive years of sales growth. Chick-fil-A earned a top spot in the 2015 Customer Service Hall of Fame for the second year in a row and is the only quick service restaurant to make the Customer Service Hall of Fame. The company was also the only restaurant brand named to the Top 10 “Best Companies to Work For” by 24/7 Wall Street. More information on Chick-fil-A is available on the chain’s website located at www.chick-fil-a.com.
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Source: Chick-fil-A