CHEEKTOWAGA – Chick-fil-A lovers need not worry. The Atlanta based restaurant chain confirms they are starting the construction process on their Cheektowaga location next week despite some uncertain messages earlier Thursday.
Councilmember James Rogowski announced Wednesday that the much-anticipated restaurant was going to start the construction process next week. Supervisor Diane Benczkowski’s office issued a press release late Thursday morning which contradicted Wednesday’s announcement.
“Contrary to previous reports, Chick-fil-A will not be breaking ground on Monday. No start date has been determined,” the release read.
The release was published by several Buffalo media outlets. Cheektowaga Chronicle refrained from publishing the release until a Chick-fil-A representative responded to our request for comment.
Chick-fil-A’s spokesperson Jackie Jags said by email Thursday afternoon, “We are very excited to join the Cheektowaga community and can confirm that our intent is to begin construction next week.”
Mr. Rogowski held a press conference moments after the Chick-fil-A release was sent out.
“I don’t want to comment on what the supervisor is doing,” Mr. Rogowski said. “You will see trucks coming on this site bringing in fences and so forth to set up for their arrangement. A pre-construction meeting has to be done, the plumbing master has to be done, and the development plan has to be done by the architect, and we will have that meeting Tuesday morning.”
Cheektowaga Chronicle spoke to Ms. Benczkowski late Thursday.
“I think [Chick-fil-A] wanted to be the ones to put [Wednesday’s] news release out,” Ms. Benczkowski said. “There was another spokesman talking to Councilmember Rogowski and headquarters didn’t know. We’re all on the same page now. They wanted to keep [the date] open-ended because they do have certain things that need to be approved by the town.”
Mr. Rogowski says Chick-fil-A Development Manager Titus Jackson was the point person to say the equipment was going to arrive at the site on Monday.
“He called me; I didn’t search him out. He called me to tell me that Chick-fil-A would start building,” added Mr. Rogowski. “Monday is Memorial Day, but I never rule it out when a contractor or the lead developer tells me that they’re going to start bringing stuff in here on Monday.”
Ms. Benczkowski says she sent the release because the company wanted to keep the date open-ended due to the holiday weekend. She felt from her telephone discussion with the company that there might have been reservations on their end regarding the timing of the meeting on Tuesday.
“I’m looking forward to working with Chick-fil-A, and I’m actually very glad that they reached out to me because I didn’t have a contact. We’re forming a partnership she said. I’m glad about that,” Ms. Benczkowski said.
The restaurant is scheduled to open either this upcoming December or January.