Chick-fil-A craze started at this food court spot — and now it’s closing, reports say
Chick-fil-A’s first ever restaurant, a historic stall inside an Atlanta mall food court, will close its doors, multiple news outlets report.
“Our last day of operations here at Chick-fil-A Greenbriar Mall will be (May 20),” according to paper signs posted at the location, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. “It has been our pleasure to serve you!”
The notices re-directed customers to nearby Chick-fil-As, WXIA reported.
On Facebook, the mall location was listed as “permanently closed.” It wasn’t immediately clear why the restaurant is shutting down.
McClatchy News reached out to Chick-Fil-A for comment May 17 and was awaiting a response.
Opened in 1967, the stall has served hungry shoppers for more than 55 years and was a catalyst for the craze that would launch Chick-fil-A as one of the nation’s most popular fast-food chains, according to the restaurant’s website.
It was “groundbreaking” in that it helped pioneer “in-mall dining” and grew Chick-fil-A’s footprint to more than 45 U.S. states, the restaurant said.
Chick-fil-A served a limited menu in its early days but now offers a variety of options — including a plant-based version of its Original Chicken Sandwich. Come Saturday, however, there will be “no mor chikin” served at the beloved Greenbriar Mall location.
“That was one of the first and I remember going as a kid. I’m 58, so it’s heartbreaking,” a customer told WSB-TV.
The news also came as a shock to Chick-fil-A regulars who lamented the closure on social media.
The chain’s closest locations are on Camp Creek Parkway and Cascade Road, both on Atlanta’s south side.
This story was originally published May 17, 2023 at 5:25 PM with the headline "Chick-fil-A craze started at this food court spot — and now it’s closing, reports say."