In a recent setback for Chick-fil-A, plans for a “mega” restaurant in Collierville, Tennessee were rejected by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen in a 5-1 vote on Monday. The proposed establishment, which aimed to cater to the town’s approximately 51,000 residents, faced opposition primarily due to concerns over potential traffic issues.

The larger Chick-fil-A format sought to introduce a 6,100-square-foot restaurant featuring a 522-square-foot outdoor seating space, a 300-square-foot playground, an employee meeting room, and dual drive-thru lanes capable of accommodating 43 cars. However, the town’s public officials deemed the scale of the project inappropriate for Collierville, citing potential traffic congestion as a major deterrent.

Jeniffer Casey, a public information officer for the town, indicated that the “overall sentiment” among decision-makers was that the proposed Chick-fil-A location did not align with the community’s vision, given the potential impact on local traffic. Despite the setback, there remains an open invitation for Chick-fil-A to submit a new proposal that adheres more closely to the town’s regulations.

Jaime Groce, the town planner, emphasized the town’s positive view of Chick-fil-A as a corporate citizen and expressed hope for the company to continue investing in the community. Groce outlined the next steps for Chick-fil-A, suggesting that a revised site plan, fully compliant with town regulations, would need to undergo a thorough review process by the staff, Planning Commission, and Design Review Commission before reaching the Board of Mayor and Aldermen once again.

This isn’t the first time Chick-fil-A has faced traffic-related concerns. In 2020, a restaurant in Union Township, New Jersey, encountered legal challenges from The Pita Shack, which claimed that the Chick-fil-A drive-thru’s extensive line was causing access issues for neighboring businesses. Despite a restraining order temporarily closing the drive-thru, the Chick-fil-A restaurant has since resumed normal operations.

The US Sun has reached out to Chick-fil-A for comment on the recent decision in Collierville, Tennessee.

This development highlights the ongoing challenges that businesses, even well-established ones like Chick-fil-A, face when expanding into smaller communities, where local concerns, such as traffic management, play a pivotal role in decision-making.