'Excitement' Builds Ahead Of Proposed Chick-Fil-A In Bridgewater

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — A proposed application to build a Chick-fil-A in Bridgewater seems to be building excitement among residents.

"The first time in my career I’ve ever sent out notices and got phone calls of people with excitement for a development. That’s certainly a first for me," said Michael Silbert, an attorney with DiFrancesco Bateman, who is representing Chick-fil-A.

The fast-food chain's application was heard before the Bridgewater Township Planning Board on Oct. 15.

Chick-fil-A is proposing to open at the long-vacant former Ruby Tuesday location at the Bridgewater Towne Center off Route 202. Ruby Tuesday abruptly closed in August 2018 following financial issues.

"Quite honestly I think Bridgewater would be blessed to see a Chick-fil-A come to town," said Planning Board member William Atkins.

The application before the Planning Board calls proposes to demolish the existing one-story masonry building within the shopping center and construct a new standalone 4,989-square-foot Chick-fil-A restaurant with a drive-thru with 29 queuing spaces. There would also be 43 parking spaces including one for electric vehicles.

Councilman Michael Kirsh, who is a planning board representative, said he would be interested in hearing from the traffic engineer.

"If you open and if approved this would be a pretty successful location," said Kirsh. "I'll be particularly interested not how you are getting people on the site. I will be particularly interested in how you are getting people off the site."

The hearing was carried to the Planning Board's Dec. 3 meeting where it will begin with Chick-fil-A's civil engineer to go over the site plan.

Currently, Chick-fil-A has one other location in Somerset County off Route 22 in Watchung. The restaurant has also filed an application with Hillsborough Township to demolish and replace the Exxon gas station on the corner of Route 206 and Triangle Road.

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