Customers line up to order Chic-fil-A sandwiches from a pop-up location in East Bend.
EAST BEND — A pop-up Chic fil-A location on N.C. 67 in East Bend opened on July 7 with a long line of eager customers ready to order the chain’s famous chicken sandwiches.
“It was amazing. We were so grateful,” said Chic-fil-A Community Engagement Director Dawn Ruble. She said they had no idea just how successful and popular it would be and said they would be bringing double the amount of food for this week.
The pop-up site is located on W. N.C. 67 next to Idols Gun Vault, and will offer a limited lunch menu from 12 to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays. Ruble said the menu is based on items that will hold well to be brought in from the full restaurant on Peace Haven Road in Winston-Salem. Items such as waffle fries are replaced with waffle potato chips in order to provide the freshest quality for customers.
Ruble said much research was done over the past two years on demographics and possible partnerships in the area with other businesses and schools to determine the need in the area for another food option. The site was expected to open earlier this year but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pop-up Chic-fil-A was well received and Ruble said there was a lot of positive feedback from the community, including from other new businesses in the area.
“We’re just here to love people with chicken,” said Ruble. “We want to love you with chicken, that’s what we’re good at it. We’re good at loving our customers.”
If the one day a week pop up continues to be popular, Ruble said it will likely expand to two or three days a week or possibly include a breakfast option as well.
“We’re very thankful to be there,” said Ruble. ” I know the community has just embraced us being there and we couldn’t be happier.”
Kitsey Burns Harrison may be reached at 336-679-2341 or on Twitter and Instagram @RippleReporterK.