Chick-Fil-A To Open Next Week In Shelton, Give Away 100 Free Meals

SHELTON, CT — Chick-fil-A's long-awaited new Shelton restaurant will officially open to the public next week, and is giving away 100 free meals for a year to celebrate.

The new restaurant will open Oct. 26 at 801 Bridgeport Avenue, marking the fast food chain's thirteenth location in Connecticut.

The Shelton location is also expected to bring approximately 100 full and part-time jobs to the community, according to a news release provided by the restaurant chain.

The restaurant will be locally owned and operated by Peter Smith, a Trumbull native who fell in love with Chick-fil-A years ago while living in North Carolina with his family. In 2013, he returned to Connecticut to pastor Calvary Church in Trumbull, during which his weekly Chick-fil-A visits continued.

Moved by the company's community-oriented ethos, Smith decided to become a local owner-operator of Chick-fil-A's first Shelton location as a way to give back to the community that raised him, according to the company.

"Chick-fil-A holds a special place in my heart, and it was a big part of my family's routine throughout the years," Smith said in a news release. "When we moved back to Connecticut, we continued our weekly tradition, even if it meant driving 35 miles each way. As the local owner-operator of Chick-fil-A Shelton, I hope to create the same impact on guests that Chick-fil-A has had on my family."

In celebration of the opening, Chick-fil-A will donate $25,000 to Feeding America to support the local hunger relief efforts of Connecticut Foodshare, a Feeding America partner food bank.

The Shelton restaurant will also recognize "100 local heroes making an impact in the Shelton area" by providing them with free Chick-fil-A entrées for a year.

"Chick-fil-A is known for great-tasting food made with high-quality ingredients," Smith said to Patch, "but I am most excited about our opportunity to make a positive impact in the Shelton community and giving back to our neighbors...Chick-fil-A has had such a positive impact on my life, and I can't wait to be able to give that back by providing deep care for our guests and neighbors, as well as quality employment opportunities that support team member growth."

Back in August, Chick-fil-A indicated the Shelton restaurant would open in the fall.

The new restaurant will finally bring Chick-fil-A's signature menu of fried and grilled chicken sandwiches, tenders and nuggets directly to Shelton residents.

"I grew up down the road in Trumbull, so it's a dream come true to return to the area and introduce Chick-fil-A to this community," Smith said. "As the local owner-operator here in Shelton, I believe our guests will appreciate our fresh, delicious food and our signature Chick-fil-A hospitality. I hope this restaurant becomes a place to foster relationships and strengthen our community."

Currently, the restaurant's closest locations are in North Haven, Brookfield, Wallingford and Danbury, according to the company's website. The popular chicken chain also confirmed plans earlier this year to open a new restaurant in Fairfield.

In addition to a variety of chicken-based menu items, Chick-fil-A is also famous for its wide selection of dipping sauces customers can order with their meal, including Garden Herb Ranch, Zesty Buffalo, Polynesian, Sweet and Spicy Sriracha and the popular Chick-fil-A Sauce.

Bill Purcell, president of the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, noted to Patch the restaurant's opening appears to be one of the most anticipated events of the year for many loyal customers and fans in Shelton.

"I have watched the progress at Fountain Square with great interest, and I am sure the developers are thrilled to land this anchor tenant," Purcell said in an email.

Purcell also said he believed traffic in the area will be manageable during Chick-fil-A Shelton's first months of operation.

According to Smith, the doors to the new restaurant will officially open Thursday morning at 6:30 a.m., and his team is already excited to start serving meals to Shelton residents.

"For many in the Shelton area, it could be their first time experiencing Chick-fil-A," Smith said, "and I'm humbled to introduce this community to our signature hospitality and delicious food. I hope our restaurant can become a bright in their lives the way it has been in mine and my family's."