Fast-food restaurant chain Chick-fil-A is closer to opening its first Hawaii eatery nearly a year after announcing the expansion plan.
Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A recently applied for a city permit to develop a new restaurant in Makiki to replace a Burger King restaurant at 1056 S. Beretania St.
Chick-fil-A spokeswoman Jackie Jags declined to confirm the permit application or comment on a possible timetable for opening. The company also has declined to disclose how many restaurants it anticipates opening in Hawaii and over what time frame.
“While we are excited to be moving closer toward our first Chick-fil-A restaurant in Hawaii, we do not have any locations or timing to confirm at this time,” Jags said in a statement.
According to city Department of Planning and Permitting records, a completed application was accepted in April and is still under review. The application estimates construction will cost $500,000 for site work and $1.7 million for a new building.
Chick-fil-A announced its Hawaii expansion plan in July, saying a franchisee would own and operate an initial restaurant on Oahu.
The company hosted an information session in April to meet prospective operators in Honolulu, and said interested candidates still may express interest in Hawaii franchise opportunities through the company’s website.
Chick-fil-A, founded in 1967 featuring chicken sandwiches, has about 2,400 restaurants in 47 states and Washington, D.C.
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