Chick-fil-A makes big move to build 1st restaurant in Tri-Cities
Chick-fil-A applied for a building permit to construct its first Tri-Cities restaurant on Friday.
The Atlanta-based chicken chain confirmed in February it would make its Tri-Cities debut at 7009 W. Canal Drive, near Wendy’s restaurant, Hobby Lobby and Wok King Buffet.
The permit application filed with the city of Kennewick seeks approval to build a nearly 5,000-square-foot restaurant with a dual drive-thru lane. The restaurant will have 74 indoor seats, 24 patio seats, 96 parking spots, four bicycle parking spots and a separate trash enclosure.
The estimated cost of the building is $1.1 million.
The restaurant will employ about 75 when it opens.
The site is two acres fronting Canal Drive near Columbia Center mall.
The application was preliminary and no further details were readily available.
The city determined the project will not have a significant impact on the environment following a review under the State Environmental Policy Act or SEPA, according to a decision released June 13.
Chick-fil-A applied for the building permit a week later.
Chick-fil-A has long been one of the businesses Tri-Citians say is missing from the community. It finished third in a 2023 poll of Herald readers after Trader Joe’s and a second Costco.
The nearest standalone location is in Spokane.
This story was originally published June 21, 2024 at 5:15 PM.