Restaurant celebrates with Cows Eat Free offer on opening day
WILMINGTON, N.C. (Jan. 5, 2026) – A new Chick-fil-A® restaurant will begin serving the Wilmington community on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, at 6:30 a.m. Chick-fil-A, Inc. selected Bennett Goss as the local Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A Shipyard.
To celebrate the opening, Goss and team are calling on the community to show their spots on opening day! Whether it’s a full cow suit or a simple cow-spotted accessory, Guests of all ages are invited to join the fun. Anyone who visits the restaurant on opening day dressed in cow attire can redeem one free entrée* or kid’s meal inside the restaurant or in the drive-thru.
Located at 604 Shipyard Blvd., Chick-fil-A Shipyard will serve Guests Monday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., offering dine-in, drive-thru, carry-out, delivery, and Mobile Thru.
Locally Owned and Operated
“For more than 13 years, Chick-fil-A has been so much more than a workplace for me — it’s been a place to grow, to lead and to serve,” said Goss. “My greatest joy comes from investing in my Team and fostering an environment where both Team Members and Guests feel genuinely valued and cared for. I’m deeply honored for the opportunity to serve the Wilmington community and to be part of its continued growth.”
Goss was first introduced to Chick-fil-A through his best friend, who worked as a Team Member in Durham. Inspired by the caring, family-like atmosphere, he joined the Chick-fil-A team and discovered a place where he felt right at home. Now, with more than a decade of experience with the brand, Goss hopes to bring that same strong sense of community to his Team Members and Guests.
Caring for the Wilmington Community
Goss is committed to giving back to the Wilmington community by:
- Celebrating the opening with a $25,000 donation from Chick-fil-A, Inc. to Feeding America in honor of the new restaurant. These funds will be distributed to partners in the greater Wilmington area to aid in the fight against hunger.
- 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.
- Creating approximately 90 jobs.
This opening is part of Chick-fil-A’s continued investment in the Wilmington community, which also includes the recent reopening of Chick-fil-A Market Street and the upcoming reopening of Chick-fil-A Monkey Junction. Following extensive renovations, both restaurants now feature an expanded drive-thru capacity to better serve Guests with greater speed and convenience. To learn more about these renovations, click here for Market Street and here for Monkey Junction.
To learn more about careers at Chick-fil-A Shipyard, click here. For the latest news and updates on Chick-fil-A Shipyard, visit the restaurant’s Facebook page and follow along on [INSTAGRAM].
Delicious Food; Outstanding Customer Service
Chick-fil-A is known for creating a remarkable restaurant experience, starting with friendly service, a warm welcome and quality food, including the original Chick-fil-A® Chicken Sandwich. Restaurants strive to provide a great-tasting meal made with real, whole chicken breast and fresh produce, all grown and sourced with care and prepared throughout the day. For more on Chick-fil-A’s high-quality menu options, click here. For more information about the Brand’s food, people and customers across the country, visit chick-fil-a.com.
Opening Day Offer Details
*Guests who dress in cow attire on opening day can redeem the offer of one free entrée or kid’s meal 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, 8-ct Grilled Nuggets, 8-ct Chick-fil-A® 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 and Puerto Rico.
Chick-fil-A opened its first restaurant in the UK in early 2025 with the goal of launching five locations across the UK within the next two years. The first Singapore restaurant is set to open in late 2025, marking the brand’s entry into Asia.
Chick-fil-A local Owner-Operators live and work in the communities their restaurants serve, each supporting local efforts to address hunger, education, and making a positive impact. The family-owned and privately held company was founded in 1967 by S. Truett Cathy. More information on Chick-fil-A is available at www.chick-fil-a.com and Chick-fil-A Press Room.
