Dozens line up early to be among the first to order at Vancouver Mall location
Keith Hallett made a promise to himself that he would be one of the first in line.
So he arrived at the new Chick-fil-A restaurant on the perimeter of Vancouver Mall at 7 a.m. Thursday.
The drive-thru at the restaurant opened at 11 a.m.
Yes, he was there four hours early.
Hallett ordered two deluxe meals, and he was the first of many customers to be handed a small stuffed cow, with a sign that read “Eat mor chikin,” part of the restaurant’s famous ad campaign asking folks to try something other than burgers.
But it’s not just the food that Hallett loves. It’s the service.
“They’re the best, they really are,” he said. “They hire nothing but the best.”
John Dombroski, the local franchise owner, was on hand to personally welcome the first guests.
“We are a purpose-driven business,” Dombroski said via press release. “We exist to care for our community and to nourish the whole person on both sides of the counter. This purpose guides and shapes how we serve our guests, how we develop and invest in our team, and how we source and prepare our food. We are excited to partner with the Vancouver Mall.”
Thursday’s debut of Vancouver’s second Chick-fil-A restaurant was not as highly anticipated as the debut in the market in 2016. The east Vancouver location remains a popular eating destination, with long lines at its drive-thru system.
Now, Vancouver has two options. The Vancouver Mall location is near Macy’s, on the perimeter of the parking lot. It is next to a new Five Guys, which also recently opened.
For now, this Chick-fil-A will be open limited hours, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Chick-fil-A is famous for being closed on Sundays. Team members will use this opening as an opportunity to review operations before expanding hours. Eventually, the restaurant will be more than drive-thru only, as well.
The east Vancouver Chick-fil-A drive-thru is open from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
