By West Side Rag
Chick-fil-A appears to be headed to the Upper West Side, as indicated by a recently posted work permit.
The posting states that the popular fast-food restaurant will be opening at 795 Columbus Avenue, near West 98th Street.
The storefront most recently served as home to a LOFT retail outpost, which sells women’s business and casual apparel.
It would be the 11th Chick-fil-A location in Manhattan, but the first on the Upper West Side. The fast food eatery sells chicken sandwiches, nuggets, waffle fries, salads, breakfast options, and more.
Chick-fil-A did not immediately respond to the Rag’s request for confirmation and further details, but we will hopefully have more to share in this week’s Opening & Closings.
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Chick-fil-a still donates heavily to organizations known for their discrimination against the LGBTQ community, and the company still lacks policies to ensure safe workplaces for LGBTQ employees, so hard pass on this bigot food.
good. more for me
I will never go through their door. I will be very surprised if they manage to stay open on the UWS.
Based upon the recent Rag article about content moderation, I thought that one of the functions was to moderate comments that were not truthful. The above comment clearly falls into that category. They changed their policy years ago. Basically in 2012. Of course, the alphabet crowd even considers the Salvation Army bad.
The big boycott over a decade ago resulted in a net increase of sales by 12%. My family and I will more than make up for you not going there.
Welcome to the neighborhood Chick-Fil-A
You might want to read this: https://www.esquire.com/food-drink/restaurants/a36622217/chick-fil-a-owner-donations-against-equality-act/
UWSers don’t have to eat there if they don’t want to. Some people will. What’s the big deal??
the “alphabet crowd”? that qualifies as a derogatory comment, to my ear.
Now someone will comment and say i am being too PC. But how would you react if someone referred to Orthodox Jews as “the yarmulke crowd”?
some people just can’t stop themselves from using cheap and prejudicial snark.
Apparently, ‘alphabet’ is used quite commonly to refer to the LGBTQIA+ community.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/21/style/lgbtq-gender-language.html
https://thediversitymovement.com/lgbtq-alphabet/
https://sunnysideuppsychotherapy.com/understanding-the-lgbtqia-alphabet/
https://alphabetsoup.blog/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/the-gender-revolution/202308/defending-the-lgbtq-alphabet-soup
response to Boris: I just looked through each of those articles. There is not a single reference to “the alphabet crowd”. The articles help explain the “alphabet soup” of letters referencing the LGBTQ community, and what they stand for.
to go back to my analogy, if i referenced the “yarmulke crowd”, it should be considered derogatory and snarky. But an article that explained “yarmulkes” and why some people wear them would be educational.
I just did a google search on “alphabet crowd” and all the top results were snarky, negative, and demeaning towards the LGBTQ community.
Here’s a simple rule of thumb: call groups what the prefer to be called. And avoid figuring out snarky references to demean a group. Would that be so hard?
Yes, their damage-control efforts since 2012 have been quite vigorous!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chick-fil-A_and_LGBT_people
The CHick-Fil-A website, today, contains this superstitious religious langiuage: “To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us.” Cutesy, but better in Vance’s Ohio than in NYC.
I am Jewish. I bet you the Judaica store on Broadway has similar language all over the place. And the Orthodox tend to believe that women are inferior. Are all of the WSR Jews going to stop shopping there as well?
Though I’m guessing the intersection between that store and Chik-Fil-A will be minimal LOL.
The Judaica store on Broadway is targeting a specific Jewish audience. They are a religious retailer.
Chick-Fil-A is a restaurant.
Apples / oranges.
Those who object to Chick-Fil-A’s religious underpinnings can choose not to patronize the restaurant.
They have the right to open where they choose. We have the right to patronize or not.
Freedom of choice.
I wouldn’t waste such a lofty concept as ‘freedom of choice’ on one’s right to not patronize a fast food joint. Waste of a principle intended for more substantial matters.
LMAO!
Cue the Christian-bashing.
There’s a line for that?
Horrible French Fries.
Agree! – There is no place in the world for ” Waffle Fries” .
So now a Bareburger and Chik-Fil-Hate are right next to each on an otherwise empty stretch of storefronts. Great.
Not really so empty…Target, Chipotle, an Acai Bowl shop, $5 Store, and others make for potential positives and negatives.
So there will be 30 mopeds all over the sidewalks? Great! STOP ordering delivery. You will save money, get exercise and the restaurant keeps more of the profits.
The ordering of delivery for every little thing from a chicken sandwhich to a slice of cake, started during covid. We can stop. Lets all stop.
I agree. I long for the days when restaurants had restricted delivery areas. Yes, I am a capitalist who believes in free trade. But it has gotten out of hand.
Restaurant deliveries should be restricted to the 20 blocks around it. And even then, it should be restricted to those who truly can’t leave their apartments – the elderly, disabled, parents of babies, etc. Otherwise get off your backside and pick it up. Obviously this will never happen but I can dream.
And for those complaining about their politics, more chicken for me. Boeing donates to election deniers – are you not going to fly in any planes?
Not Boeing planes, certainly — though their Starliner is really something.
The juxtaposition of Chick-Fil-A and the Mount Sinai Emergency Room on the construction company’s sign struck me as too funny.
I realize it’s mandated for the benefit of the site workers, and not a comment on the chain’s food.
But I still won’t be eating at any of Chick-Fil-A’s locations because of the policies that im10ashus mentions (and I hope to avoid the ER as well).
This company opposes a woman’s right to choose and is anti-abortion. Even thought I like the food, I will not give any money to a company which goes against a woman’s right to choose her own pathway regarding pregnancy. I won’t eat in Chick-fil-A.
Please do not post anything except my first name. I don’t want a discussion of my views or to hear from others trying to change my mind. Thank you.
We do not need bigot burgers in our neighborhood.
Hope they go beak up.
@Chuck D You’d be happier if they remain empty?
Hopefully the area won’t be overwhelmed by delivery bikes, double-parked autos, sidewalk littering, etc.
We do NOT NEED the presence of this politically regressive “evangelical” restaurant chain on the UWS!
Like others, I’ve always heard about the bigotry and anti-LGTBQ policies. Yet I’m reading a different perspective here. Could someone please tell me more about exactly what organization used to be supported and how that support wad changed over a decade ago? If the rumors about bigotry are erroneous or obsolete, I’ll be glad to welcome them to the neighborhood.
Alas, Chick-fil-A is still Chick-fil-A, though not quite so loudly these days. There’s a rather decent summary here, though it can easily be expanded upon:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chick-fil-A_and_LGBT_people
These people are vile, masking their hate with a Biblical tone. They DO NOT belong anywhere in NYC. We are a city of many people, not a majority of anyone.
Keep these people out!
Please explain to me how you justify keeping “these people” out when they are running a restaurant. Have you surveyed all the restaurants on the UWS to find out what their politics and religious views are? What about the little mom and pop shops? Since when does the UWS legislate who can and who can’t open a business because of their views?
We ate there in FL a few months ago and it had more paper and cardboard waste than I’ve ever seen. We didn’t even get it to go and just to walk the food from the counter to a table 15 feet away there was the equivalent of a large grocery bag full of paper, straws, cardboard, drink holders etc. And the food is extremely mediocre.
The owner, Dan Cathy, is still actively involved with groups such as the National Christian Foundation, an organization “spearheading the derailment of the Equality Act”.
https://www.esquire.com/food-drink/restaurants/a36622217/chick-fil-a-owner-donations-against-equality-act/
Wow this has certainly triggered the uws!
I agree, it’s eye-opening! I work on the UES and there are 2 within walking distance of my office but I’ve never heard any discussion about them. : o
Another reason to love the UWS!
My biggest objection is that this is mediocre fast food, and I wish the high 90s would attract something more interesting. I guess if the market for this is here, then they aren’t stupid to move here. Let’s hope the area isn’t so desperate for such blah food.
I don’t eat processed foods at all, but I went to a Chic-fil-A in California once with family members whose kids like the food. I don’t agree with their beliefs either, but I like that they’re open about them at least, and we do allow diversity of opinion in the United States, last I heard. Also, and I can’t emphasize this enough: it was very well maintained and the employees were unbelievably polite and helpful.
Chic-fil-A uses MSG in their food. It’s important to not normalize the belief that MSG is okay in our food supply
MSG is used all over the world including countries with higher and healthier life expectancies. MSG would be one of the least worries I have going into my food compared to what else goes into the American food supply.
Not to mention the antibiotics. (Which I did, below.)
As for H5N1 (an issue not restricted to Chick-fil-A or even to poultry, of course), it’s likely premature to worry much about it. Raw milk as a far greater concern.
https://www.cdc.gov/ncird/whats-new/human-infection-H5N1-bird-flu.html
Chick-Fil-A has a great product and outstanding service. They want to owners to be present at the location and limit owners to 1 store. This Country has become so divided that people are upset about a chicken sandwich because the Corporation is openly spiritual. This nation has serious problems and this needs to end.
So called Christians who want to deprive others of their rights….not Christians at all by my definition /opinion. Some may think it doesn’t matter at all if you do not purchase things from an organization that does not choose to uphold certain standards in how others are treated …it does matter. Is it the same as voting to ensure our democracy survives a dictatorship? No, but to support those who are oppressed in this country, one way or another, I will not buy from Chick-fill A. My choice. I have no problem if you/others do want to buy from them. That’s your right. I will not judge you for it. But people who are biased against others? Who want to deprive others of basic rights? Just NO.
No, sorry, I don’t think being “openly spiritual” quite captures what so many people find so very upsetting about the company.
https://www.snopes.com/ is a good place to vet rumors. There are a few articles there about this company and its policies.
Snopes pushed Russiagate fables.
Chick-fil-A doesn’t belong on the UWS-send their politics elsewhere
So to be clear – they don’t belong on the UWS because you (or even the majority) don’t agree with their politics? How tolerant of you.
I don’t agree with their politics either and, as a result, won’t eat in any of their locations. But, their corporate HQs and each franchise owner has a right to support whatever causes they want. To say they simply don’t belong because they don’t share your beliefs is a pretty frightening idea.
And THEN there’s that matter of the antibiotics….
“Chick-fil-A rolls back commitment to antibiotic-free chicken”:
https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/chick-fil-a-rolls-back-commitment-antibiotic-free-chicken-2024-03-22/
No way will I ever to go this or any of their locations. Their discriminatory policies make them a nogo. There are other options just as good or better.
Even NYC can’t cancel a good chicken sandwich.
Better than another vacant store front on the UWS
Replying to Jay. Snopes doesn’t “push” anything. They thoroughly investigate and report the facts. Sorry if the facts challenged what you prefer to believe but facts are facts and not necessarily what we want to hear.
I am pumped!!! I’m a gold member every year since I constantly buy their Mac and cheese but it’s such a long trip to the 50s to get this. Now I can savor the food several times a week. Heads up that they’re doing their annual freebies game through the app so you get something every few days. They also tend to give you random freebies so check your app constantly! UWS is about to experience true bliss!
It’s nice to finally see a happy comment posted here, lol!
Get ready for the vandalism. I hope the company didn’t sink too much money into this doomed location.
What a horrible thing to say.
They make a pretty mean bird…They may have different views than myself but I can’t deny their great food (by fast food standards), friendly service, and the fact that they will occupy a space that has been vacant for a LONG TIME, I’m all for it. Many people love Chick Fil A and many people don’t. No one is forcing anyone to eat there. Just go on about your day and you will happier for it.
I definitely will be welcoming Chick-fil-A to the neighborhood. We need more retail stores in the area.
If you are so bigoted as to be offended by Christianity, perhaps you’re not as Liberal as you pretend to be.
I’m curious, did you complain about “The Halal Guys” on Amsterdam Ave. after October 7th? After all, they are run by Muslims. Somehow I don’t think so.
And do you really think they have a question on their employment application asking if the person is a member of the LGBTQ+ community? I believe that’s against the law.
Chick-fil-A will bring another profitable business to the UWS, providing a proven quality product and pay taxes, which will give the city more revenue. Throwing away jobs and tax revenue for mindless political goals is foolish.
Perhaps you’d feel better with another pot shop opening in the area? I know what Chick-fil-A is offering, what are you contributing to the community?
I cannot believe there aren’t more comments about the crowd this is going to draw in such a beautiful area. Have you all seen the McDonald’s and Popeyes on broadway? It’s like night of the living dead. So sad to see this come to Columbus. We don’t need fast food here.
There is a TJ Maxx and Burlington both with dungeon style dimly lit basement clearance racks along with 5 Below all on the same block. I doubt Chick Fil A will make it worse.