Chick-fil-A, a controversial but also popular operator of fast-food restaurants throughout the country, has submitted plans for its first restaurant in Olympia.
That's according to the city of Olympia, which announced Friday that it has received a land-use application for a new restaurant, dual dive-through and associated parking at 2930 Capital Mall Drive Southwest.
City officials also go on to say that the project will require an administrative parking modification to increase parking above the amount required by code.
The site of the proposed restaurant also happens to be the same location of a restaurant called Fujiyama Steakhouse. Owner Charlie Kang previously expressed surprise at the proposal and a desire to stay put.
Kang could not be reached on Sunday.
The city currently is accepting comments on the proposal. Comments should be sent to lead planner Jackson Ewing at jewing@ci.olympia.wa.us. The comment period ends at 5 p.m. Sept. 15.
Before that deadline, however, the city is going to host a public information meeting at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 5 on Zoom.
"Questions about both the proposal and the city's review procedure will be welcomed," the land-use notification reads.
There's a chance the meeting is well attended if recent community response to the Chick-fil-A in Lacey is any indication. Some residents became alarmed after Chick-fil-A sponsored a Children's Day event at Huntamer Park because of the company's past anti-LGBTQ positions.
And some say company officials still share those beliefs.
Residents spoke out at a North Thurston Public Schools board meeting and at Lacey City Council about the sponsorship, ultimately prompting a sponsorship policy change at the city of Lacey.
