Restaurant Creates Approximately 80 Jobs, Guests Invited to Dress in Cow Print on Opening Day for Free Entrée
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (Jan. 15, 2026) – A new Chick-fil-A® restaurant will begin serving Guests in Walnut Creek on Thursday, January 22 at 6:30 a.m. Chick-fil-A, Inc. has selected Kaylee Thornton to serve as the local Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A Oak Grove & Citrus.
Located at 2290 Oak Grove Rd., Chick-fil-A Oak Grove & Citrus will serve Guests Monday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., offering dine-in, carry-out and catering. Chick-fil-A Oak Grove & Citrus brings approximately 80 jobs to the community and joins more than 29 other Chick-fil-A restaurants serving the Bay Area.
To celebrate the opening, Guests are welcome to join the fun by dressing in cow print on opening day to receive a free entrée.
Locally Owned and Operated
“From my early days as a Team Member to now opening a restaurant in my home state, this journey has been incredibly rewarding,” said Thornton. “I’m thrilled to serve the Walnut Creek community and build a space where hospitality and heart come first.”
More About Kaylee
- Originally from San Luis Obispo, California, Thornton began her Chick-fil-A journey as a college student at the University of Oklahoma.
- She later pursued the Chick-fil-A® Leadership Development Program and is now returning to California with her husband to open Chick-fil-A Oak Grove & Citrus.
Cows Eat Free to Celebrate Chick-fil-A Oak Grove & Citrus
To celebrate the restaurant moo-ving into town, cows will eat free on opening day! Thornton and her team are inviting the community to show off their cow spots on opening day for one free entrée.
Since 1995, the Cows have been a beloved part of Chick-fil-A, encouraging humans to skip burgers and “Eat More Chikin” – and now it’s Walnut Creek’s turn to join the herd.
- Since 1995, the Cows have been a beloved part of Chick-fil-A, encouraging humans to skip burgers and “Eat More Chikin” – and now it’s Walnut Creek’s turn to join the herd.
- Guests dressed in cow print – whether it’s a full cow costume or a simple cow-spotted accessory – can enjoy one free entrée* in person inside the restaurant.
Caring for the Walnut Creek Community
Thornton is committed to giving back to the Walnut Creek community by:
- Celebrating the opening with a $25,000 donation from Chick-fil-A, Inc. to Feeding America to support local hunger relief efforts of Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, a Feeding America partner food bank, in honor of the new restaurant.
- Participating in the Chick-fil-A Shared Table® program, which redirects surplus food to local nonprofits, helping to create over 42 million meals nationwide to date.
To learn more about careers at Chick-fil-A Oak Grove & Citrus, click here. For the latest news and updates on Chick-fil-A Oak Grove & Citrus, visit the restaurant’s Facebook page and follow along on Instagram. For more on Chick-fil-A’s high-quality menu options, click here.
*Guests who dress in cow attire on opening day can redeem the offer of one free entrée inside the restaurant or in the drive-thru. Breakfast offer options are a Chick-fil-A® Chicken Biscuit, Egg White Grill or 4-ct Chick-fil-A Chick-n-Minis®. Lunch/dinner offer options are Chick-fil-A® Chicken Sandwich, Spicy Chicken Sandwich or 8-ct Grilled Nuggets or 5-ct Nugget Kid’s Meal. The offer is limited to one per person in cow attire, per day, while supplies last. No purchase is necessary. See the restaurant for more details.
About Chick-fil-A, Inc.
Chick-fil-A, Inc. is the third largest quick-service restaurant company in the United States, known for its freshly-prepared food, signature hospitality and unique franchise model. More than 200,000 Team Members are employed by local Owner-Operators in more than 3,000 restaurants across the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom and Singapore.
Chick-fil-A local Owner-Operators live and work in the communities their restaurants serve, each supporting local efforts and making a positive impact. Chick-fil-A gives back through programs including Shared Table, True Inspiration Awards and Scholarships. The family-owned and privately held company got its start in 1946, founded by S. Truett Cathy. More information on Chick-fil-A is available at www.chick-fil-a.com and Chick-fil-A Press Room.
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