Lincoln Park (MI)

Meet Restaurant Operator

Marcel Smith

Born and raised in Detroit, Marcel was shaped by a community built on resilience, hard work, and strong values. He attended high school just minutes from where Chick-fil-A Lincoln Park now stands and later graduated as Class Valedictorian from the Academy of Business & Technology in Melvindale. As a student-athlete, Marcel helped lead his basketball team to a Michigan Class C State Championship, becoming part of the first charter school in the state to achieve that milestone. Marcel first discovered Chick-fil-A during the brand’s early expansion into Metro Detroit at Somerset Mall. Experiencing the care, hospitality, and intentional culture firsthand—and later studying the leadership principles of founder Truett Cathy—sparked a desire to pursue a path rooted in people development and service. After nearly six years of preparation and leadership development within the Chick-fil-A system, Marcel knew his calling was to serve the Detroit and Downriver communities. When the opportunity arose to open the first Chick-fil-A in Lincoln Park, it felt like a natural extension of his journey and purpose. Family and community are central to Marcel’s leadership. His family lives nearby, and his mother is a mental health advocate with a weekly segment on Fox 2 Detroit—reinforcing the belief that people always come before performance. Marcel’s vision for Chick-fil-A Lincoln Park goes beyond great food. His mission is to R.I.S.E.—to be Relentless in excellence, Intentional in developing people, Service-driven in every interaction, and Excellent in all we do. Through leadership development, scholarships, youth partnerships, and bilingual hospitality, Marcel and his team are committed to serving Lincoln Park with care, purpose, and pride.