A first for Forsyth, beloved chicken brand announces opening date for new restaurant

The long-anticipated opening of Monroe County’s first Chick-fil-A is finally here.

On Aug. 15, the new restaurant at 101 Industrial Park Road in Forsyth will start serving up those popular chicken sandwiches, nuggets and waffle fries, the company announced Tuesday.

The restaurant hours are 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

“I am truly honored to have the opportunity to serve the Forsyth community,” Nick Jones, independent franchise owner and operator of the new store, said in a news release. “I look forward to creating a welcoming environment where our guests can enjoy great food and exceptional hospitality.”

The new restaurant offers dine-in, take-out, delivery and a drive-thru, including a “mobile thru” lane for guests that have placed orders in the Chick-fil-A app ahead of time.

The new restaurant also features a playground.

Say hello to the owner/operator

At 16, Jones started his career with the late Truett Cathy’s Chick-fil-A in Stockbridge, Georgia. Jones worked as a team member while in college as well as serving in the U.S. Army National Guard and Army Reserves in 2002. He moved into management after graduating from college in 2004.

Before taking the helm of the Forsyth restaurant, Jones served for 11 years as the local owner-operator of the Chick-fil-A in Vicksburg, Mississippi.

In Forsyth, he will manage a team of about 90 full-time and part-time employees. The restaurant is now hiring.

Joyce White, executive director of the Development Authority of Monroe County, played a key role in bringing the Georgia grown company to Forsyth. She reached out to the company to consider locating a new restaurant on property near Interstate 75 that was too large for the industrial park.

The restaurant will be the 16th Chick-fil-A serving the greater Macon area, according to the release. The restaurant is less than five miles from the Georgia Public Safety Training Center and about 25 miles northwest of Macon.

In addition to its popular chicken meal choices, the Chick-fil-A brand is also known for its advertising campaign of cows holding up ‘Eat More Chikin’ signs and for being closed on Sundays.

Telegraph archives were used in this report.

This story was originally published August 6, 2024 at 1:22 PM.