David Anderson Montes Lara
View from a window shows that Chick-fil-A is still under construction.
Davidson has still not announced when the new Chick-fil-A inside PCC House 13 will open. The Student Government Association’s initial announcement of the new dining option projected it would open this fall. That’s not looking like the case.
According to Director of Auxiliary Services Richard Terry and Director of Dining Services Pinky Varghese, unexpected construction and permitting delays have posed significant challenges.
Obtaining the proper certifications for Chick-fil-A has created delays. “You have to get a TCO (temporary certificate of occupancy) and meet certain standards to make sure the gas doesn’t leak and the electrical [system] is safe, and that is yet to happen,” Terry said.
Complications with the TCO create a bottleneck effect. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services inspects safety procedures, including access to restroom facilities, hand-wash stations and the safe handling of animal proteins. But the Department cannot inspect the Chick-fil-A until the TCO is obtained.
Besides the permitting and safety checks, Chick-fil-A’s requirements for their franchise locations are also creating a hurtle.
“[Chick-fil-A has] specific requirements about what equipment we use. If we run into a problem with getting a particular piece of equipment, it isn’t as simple as saying, ‘Oh, well, we’ll just get a different one,’” Terry said.
“Lead times on getting some of the more technical cooking equipment have taken longer than we had hoped. But we’re at the mercy of delivery schedules and equipment, manufacturing, and so forth.”
Although slow, some progress is being made. The Fire Department completed regulatory checks of the fire suppression system on Monday, according to Varghese.
When asked about an opening date, both Terry and Varghese refrained from specific estimates, although construction and other regulatory checks may continue through winter break.
The arrival of the new facility, which will be managed by Davidson Dining Services, was announced in Sept. 2024. The facility is expected to accommodate 98 guests and will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. from Monday through Saturday.
Dining Services have hired and trained managers and supervisors for the restaurant.
“Everything is ready from our part. The only thing is that we need to get the building handed over to us, and the Chick-A folks come and do the opening,” Varghese said.
Recognizing that the delays are disappointing, both Varghese and Terry urge students to consider that both Chick-fil-A and the health department’s standards exist to uphold students’ health and safety and maintain the chain’s consistent quality.
“There are no shortcuts. It’s about student safety, and what Chick-fil-A requires, so they can be sure that everything is identical to what you experience all over the world,” Terry said.
“We understand the anticipation […] but we also urge people to be more patient. We’re getting there.”