Construction Work Begins On New Chick-Fil-A In Parsippany

PARSIPPANY, NJ — Construction on the township's first Chick-fil-A location has begun, despite initial concerns that the restaurant would increase traffic on Route 46 and in the surrounding neighborhood.

Chick-fil-A, which has about 50 New Jersey locations — including one just outside Parsippany in the Briarcliff Commons shopping center of Morris Plains, will be building a new location on Route 46.

The Parsippany Board of Adjustment approved the construction of a Chick-fil-A in August 2022, with only one member of the board voting no, Nancy Snyder.

According to the applicant's testimony, the new building will be 5,338 square feet in size, with 62 interior seats and 18 exterior seats.

The restaurant site will have 81 parking spaces in total, as well as several electric charging stations.

The fast-food restaurant will be taking the place of prior structures at Colony Plaza, a 50,000-square-foot retail and office complex with highway frontage. The property, which is located on Route 46 West was sold in 2020.

Several residents spoke out against the plan's approval during the public hearing, concerned about the increased traffic in the area and the potential for lines to back up at the drive-thru.

According to Patrick Downey, a traffic engineer for the developers, the Parsippany site plan adheres to new company standards that call for two takeout lanes, which should help prevent traffic from backing up onto the highway.

The brand-new Chick-fil-A will add employment opportunities for local residents, officials said.