Chick-fil-A is a generally popular fast food chain in the Francis Howell Central area. It caters the majority of breakfast and brunch events, and is eaten weekly by students and staff due to being in the vicinity of the school. However, starting July 5, Chick-fil-a had been temporarily closed for renovations.
Now having the means to upgrade to the other more efficient designs in the area that makes lines shorter, and obtaining orders easier for both customers and workers, Chick-fil-A tried to keep their customers with updates during the renovation process on social media. Around November 7, 2025, using posts on Facebook and Instagram, as well as their sign to inform the public, Chick-fil-A was officially scheduled to re-open November 13, 2025. However, many students have had difficulty waiting for over three months in order to eat from the Mid Rivers location.
“I’m devastated,” said senior Loralynn Hunter.
Hunter has been a loyal customer to the Mid Rivers location for many years and while she had attempted to wait until Chick-fil-A re-opened to eat it again, the craving was too hard to resist.
“I wait, and then there are some times it’s like ‘I can’t wait anymore!’ and I just go,” Hunter said. “It’s been a month [since the last time I ate Chick-fil-A], but I’m, like, internally dying.”
That said, Hunter is not the only student who could not resist the raging craving for Chick-fil-A. Senior Angie Lee Davenport admitted to driving to other, occasionally inconvenient locations in order to have Chick-fil-A not every few weeks, but on a weekly basis.
“I go to Highway K to get Chick-fil-A, which is like 15 minutes away,” Davenport said. “I’m spending more money on gas just so I can get a $10 meal.”
With Chick-fil-A having almost addictive properties for students, it brings the question: what makes Chick-fil-A such a tempting, undeniable force in the area? Especially when competing with Canes as the more available fast food chain.
For Davenport, it’s the flavor.
“Cane’s doesn’t have any seasoning on anything,” said Davenport. “If you get a Chick-fil-A sandwich, it still tastes good without the sauce. Obviously, the sauce is preferred.”
As well as the variety of options to choose from.
“I just think [Chick–fil–A] has more options than just straight-up chicken strips,” said junior Sarah Turner. “For Canes, it’s either chicken strips or chicken strips on a bun. But, like Chick-fil-A, they have different types of chicken. And they have mac and cheese, and salad, and wraps.”
However, not every student prefers Chick-fil-A over Canes, not just for the options alone. For senior, he prefers Canes over Chick-fil-A not for the taste, but because it’s been more convenient for him even before the Mid Rivers location was closed for renovations.
“I work there,” Cortez said.“ I get a half off [any meal of his choice from canes], within an hour of working.”
But when asked his preference, Cortez’s response was slightly different.
“It’s kinda 50-50. I don’t really go to Chick-fil-A or Canes too often, but usually it’s Canes,” said Cortez.
Before its grand re-opening, Chick-fil-A had been open for a select VIP members, and the day of re-opening it had a ribbon cutting ceremony.
It is clear that while not all of the community loves Chick-fil-A, a majority couldn’t wait for Chick-fil-A’s return and this essential location has received such a warm welcome by the flood of loyal, overjoyed customers’ returning after three months of patiently waiting.
