Restaurant Brings Approximately 120 Full- and Part-Time Jobs to Community, Honors 100 Local Heroes With Free Chick-fil-A Meals for a Year

NEW YORK (Oct. 20, 2022) – A new Chick-fil-A^® restaurant will begin serving Midtown on Tuesday, Oct. 25. Chick-fil-A, Inc. has selected Josh Baals as the independent franchised Owner/Operator of Chick-fil-A 31st & Park.  

Located at 461 Park Ave. South, Chick-fil-A 31st & Park will be open for dine-in and carry-out from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Guests of Chick-fil-A 31st & Park can choose from the restaurant’s limited menu to place an order for pickup or delivery on the Chick-fil-A^® App or online. When joining the Chick-fil-A One^® tiered membership program, guests receive points on every qualifying purchase which can be used to redeem available rewards. Visit chick-fil-a.com/delivery to view delivery options in your area. 

The 31st & Park restaurant joins 11 other Chick-fil-A restaurants serving Manhattan.  

Locally Owned and Operated  
As full-time, hands-on leaders in their restaurants and communities, Chick-fil-A Owner/Operators proudly reside in the areas in which they serve.  

At 31st & Park, Baals will be responsible for all day-to-day activities of the business, including employing approximately 120 full- and part-time Team Members, serving guests and cultivating relationships with local organizations and businesses. 

Originally from New Jersey, Baals decided to pursue a career with Chick-fil-A after working as a consultant and a real estate agent. Baals’ journey with Chick-fil-A began in 2011 when he left his job to learn more about the company and later entered into the Chick-fil-A Operator selection process. Baals was selected to be an Operator in 2012 for a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Phillipsburg, N.J. In 2019, he moved his family to Manhattan to become the Operator of Chick-fil-A 22nd & 6th, which he will continue to operate along with the new Chick-fil-A 31st & Park.  

“Having had the privilege of being an Operator at two other Chick-fil-A restaurants, the thing that I love the most about being in this position is the ability to watch our Team Members grow and really push themselves to succeed,” said Baals. “I’ve seen firsthand the positive impact that Chick-fil-A has on people’s lives, and I look forward to continuing that tradition. It’s my goal to serve the most craveable food, provide a first-class atmosphere and create a remarkable experience for all.” 

Caring for the New York City Community  
In honor of the opening, Chick-fil-A, Inc. will donate $25,000 to Feeding America on behalf of the new restaurant. These funds will be distributed to partners in the greater New York area to aid in the fight against hunger. Chick-fil-A 31st & Park is also recognizing 100 local heroes making an impact in the New York City area by providing them with free Chick-fil-A meals for a year.  

Baals’ restaurant will be participating in the Chick-fil-A Shared Table™ Program, an initiative that redirects surplus food from the restaurant to local soup kitchens, shelters, food banks and nonprofits in need. When there is surplus food, Chick-fil-A 31st & Park will donate it to a local community partner.  

Team Member Investment  
Chick-fil-A Operators are committed to hiring, developing and retaining top talent and providing a positive work environment for people of all ages and backgrounds. Team Members have opportunities for flexible work hours and leadership growth, competitive pay and benefits, hands-on training and mentoring and the chance to apply for scholarships to support their continuing education.  

Delicious Food; Outstanding Customer Service  
Chick-fil-A is known for serving customers great-tasting food made with high-quality ingredients, including the original Chick-fil-A^® Chicken Sandwich. Made with a real, whole, boneless breast of chicken with no added fillers, the breaded chicken is pressure cooked in fully-refined peanut oil. Chick-fil-A was one of the first in the industry to eliminate chicken raised with antibiotics to ensure guests have an option for high-quality food on the go. 

To complement the great-tasting chicken, fresh produce is delivered to Chick-fil-A restaurants up to six times a week for the best quality and flavor. The fresh ingredients are raised and grown by farmers who share the company’s elevated quality and safety standards, so guests feel good about their meal. 

For the latest news and updates on Chick-fil-A 31st & Park, visit the local restaurant’s Facebook page and follow along on Instagram. For more information about Chick-fil-A and stories about the Brand’s food, people and customers across the country, visit chick-fil-a.com. 

About Chick-fil-A, Inc.  
Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A, Inc. is a restaurant company known for the Original Chick-fil-A^® Chicken Sandwich and signature hospitality. Represented by more than 170,000 Team Members, Operators and Staff, Chick-fil-A^® restaurants serve guests freshly prepared food at more than 2,800 restaurants in 48 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and Canada. The family-owned and privately held restaurant company was founded in 1967 by S. Truett Cathy and is committed to serving the local communities in which its franchised restaurants operate.  

Known for its leadership and growth opportunities, in 2022 Chick-fil-A was named a Best Employer in America by Forbes and a top company for career opportunities for Black employees by Glassdoor. The company was also awarded the Employee’s Choice by Glassdoor honoring top CEOs and was named a Culture 500 Culture Champion in 2020. A leader in customer service, Chick-fil-A was named QSR magazine’s Drive-Thru Restaurant of the Year in 2021. More information on Chick-fil-A is available at www.chick-fil-a.com and @ChickfilANews.

Contact: Media Hotline: (800) 404-7196
Email: [email protected]  
X (Twitter): @ChickfilANews