By Dan Murphy
Let me start by saying how much I enjoy a Chick-fil-A sandwich. But I have had to go to Danbury, or Manhattan, to buy one, because Chick-fil-A has not opened a store in Westchester County.
Yonkers will be the first Chick-fil-A restaurant in Westchester, after the Yonkers Planning Board approved their application to open on Central Park Avenue, at the location of a former Wells Fargo Bank, now vacant.
The Planning Board reconvened on Feb. 8 and heard from residents who live near or next to the locations where the restaurant will be built, at the corner of CPA and Roxbury Drive. But the Planning Board reaffirmed the earlier decision to approve the plan.
Mayor Mike Spano said after the vote, “In 2019, Chick-fil-A chose Central Avenue, our great City’s platinum mile, to build a restaurant. There were concerns about traffic, and the public was heard, changes were made and Chick-fil-A committed $1 million to traffic mitigation. After 18 meetings, there were some who chose to criticize but were completely absent throughout the process. We know a Chick-fil-A will make Central Avenue more economically viable. This is a big victory for Yonkers and we look forward to being the new home of Westchester County’s first Chick-fil-A.”
Other Yonkers residents we spoke to while delivering the paper last week, told us
1-“This is a feather in the cap for Yonkers, to be the first Chick-fil-A in Westchester.”
2-“If this place is as popular as people say, maybe people from outside of Yonkers will come to Chick-fil-A and then do some shopping on Central Avenue or one of our malls.”
3-“If we can’t put this restaurant on Central Park Avenue, then where should it go?” Note: Some of the neighboring residents who protested said that there were other, more suitable locations on CPA.
4-“The homeowners who live there knew that they were buying a home next to Central Park Avenue. This should be no surprise to them.”
5-Right now there is a vacant bank building that has been empty for a few years. It looks bad to have so many vacancies on this retail roadway.”
Here’s the truth about Chick-Fil-A’s that I go to with a drive thru. They are busy, and popular, as i’m sure the store in Yonkers will be. But the management of Chick-Fil-A is very good at moving people in and out. They put additional staff on the drive thru line to get their order placed. It moves things along. The owners of Chick-Fil-A would not have invested in this store, or signed a 20-year lease, without understanding the entrance and exits involved.
Mayor Spano represents the entire city, and this restaurant is clearly in the best interests of the entire city. We understand that Councilman Anthony Merante was representing his constituents when he stood opposed to its location with homeowners who live nearby.
The Sales Taxes generated from this store will be significant. And the Chicken is great!
