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Oxford Chick-fil-A branch to be ‘express’ location, certain items to be taken off menu

By Carmen Black, For The Miami Student

Sizzling waffle fries, savory chicken sandwiches, tart lemonade - trademarks of the ever-popular, ever-controversial "Eat Mor Chickin" restaurant chain. Chick-fil-A will open its doors to hungry residents of Oxford and Miami University students in late November at 313 S. College St.

But there's a catch. The Stewart Square Chick-fil-A will be a "Chick-fil-A Express," which is a unique concept for the Christian-based company, which boasts an award from the 24/7 Wall Street 2014 Customer Service Hall of Fame, according to Chick-fil-A's website.

According to Daryl Nelson, franchise owner of the Oxford store as well as the restaurant in Bridgewater Falls, there will be no playground, no drive-through and the menu will be slightly altered.

"Chick-fil-A Express is a name we picked to try to express the difference between full service and what we're bringing to Oxford," Nelson said. "It's not going to be a full standing restaurant. It's going to be an additional distribution point."

Some of the restaurant's food, like its fruit cups and fresh salads, will be prepared at the store location in Bridgewater Falls, Hamilton, and brought to Stewart Square for sale. Additionally, the store will sell bottled soda, which is uncharacteristic for a Chick-fil-A franchise.

According to Alan Kyger, economic development director for the City of Oxford, the franchise owner wasted no time between securing the store location and preparing to open.

"They're not messing around," Kyger said. "Once they secured the site, which was in the last 30 days, they submitted building plans to the city. They're starting out with what used to be a boutique and now it's a restaurant. They have it fast-tracked."

Nelson pointed out that, at this point, he's just waiting on the Butler County Health Department to do a walk-through and inspection before the store can receive its final permit and they can open for business.

Another caveat of the Chick-fil-A Express is its unique hours of operation. The restaurant will be open Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Due partially to the odd hours and partially to the "express" concept, the store won't serve breakfast. Typically, chicken biscuits, hash browns and chicken minis are offered in the early hours. In addition, the new location will only offer one of its three signature salads - the Market Salad.

Though the opening of Chick-Fil-A is certainly a buzzing matter around Oxford, McDonald's Crew Manager Nigel Owen doesn't foresee the competition to be a problem. He insists that McDonald's has a regular customer base that will keep the mega-chain as busy as ever.

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A large concern for the Oxford Chick-Fil-A is the fact that it lacks a drive-through. With lunch and dinner rushes steadily flowing each day, the idea of managing a carryout or dine-in only store is risky.

Nelson is unsure of how the lack of a drive-through will affect business at the Oxford location.

"That is the great unknown," Nelson said. "I've gotten a lot of great excitement. Translating that into business, we'll see."

Sophomore Kathryn Fazekas is passionate about the opening of a new Chick-fil-A.

"[The Chick-fil-A Express concept] makes things go faster but I wish it was regular because it's more of the Chick-Fil-A experience," Fazekas said. "I think they'll do well because people love Chick-fil-A."

The store will uphold the business model and values founder Truett Cathy established with the business in 1946.

"Truett believed in excellence," Nelson said. "In food, employees, staff, customers, in how we help the community. We treat everyone with honor, dignity, respect and with excellence."

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