Restaurant to Bring Approximately 140 Full- and Part-Time Jobs to Community
MANAHAWKIN, N.J. (March 14, 2022) – A new Chick-fil-A® restaurant is slated to open for business in Manahawkin on Thursday, March 17. Chick-fil-A, Inc. has selected Matthew Baals as the independent franchised Owner/Operator of Chick-fil-A Manahawkin. Baals will be responsible for all day-to-day activities of the business, including employing approximately 140 full- and part-time Team Members, cultivating relationships with local organizations and neighboring businesses, and serving guests. Chick-fil-A Manahawkin is located at 434 Route 72 West, off Barnegat Road, and will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
Chick-fil-A remains committed to serving guests safely. Chick-fil-A Manahawkin will open for mobile ordering, dine-in and drive-thru service, with third-party delivery available shortly after the opening. Guests can take advantage of contactless ordering and payment through the free Chick-fil-A® App or online ordering. To learn more about Chick-fil-A’s safety protocols, please visit the COVID-19 response page.
In place of the traditional Chick-fil-A First 100® Grand Opening celebration, Chick-fil-A Manahawkin will be surprising 100 local heroes making an impact in Stafford Township with free Chick-fil-A for a year. Additionally, in honor of the new restaurant opening, Chick-fil-A will donate $25,000 to Feeding America. The funds will be distributed to partners within the greater Manahawkin area to aid in the fight against hunger.
Locally Owned and Operated
Chick-fil-A Manahawkin is locally owned and operated by Matthew Baals. A New Jersey native, Baals grew up just down the road in Stafford Township. After earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, Baals spent 15 years in the real estate industry honing his business and leadership skills. In search of a career change that would coincide with his heart for service and passion for mentoring youth, Baals set his sights on becoming a Chick-fil-A Operator. He was thrilled to be selected as the Operator of Chick-fil-A Manahawkin. Alongside his wife, Brenda, and their two children, Baals looks forward to making a positive impact in the Manahawkin community and serving as a mentor for his Team Members.
“With the opening of this new restaurant, I look forward to building meaningful relationships in Stafford Township,” said Baals. “At Chick-fil-A Manahawkin, we are committed to creating a culture of care for our Team Members and providing our guests with a remarkable experience, serving them great-tasting food with Chick-fil-A’s signature hospitality.”
Team Member Investment
Chick-fil-A franchised Operators are committed to hiring, developing and retaining top talent, and providing a positive work environment for people of all ages and backgrounds. They also offer their Team Members 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.
Quality Ingredients; Delicious Food
Chick-fil-A focuses on serving customers great-tasting food made with high-quality ingredients. The produce used in recipes is delivered to kitchens up to six times a week. Salads are made with whole fruits and vegetables that are chopped and prepared fresh throughout the day. Chick-fil-A Lemonade is made from three simple ingredients: lemon juice, sugar and water.
Breaded chicken is pressure cooked in 100%, fully refined peanut oil and all U.S. Chick-fil-A restaurants serve chicken raised with No Antibiotics Ever, starting from the egg. By not allowing antibiotics of any kind, Chick-fil-A chicken meets the highest commitment for non-antibiotic use. For more information about the Chick-fil-A No Antibiotics Ever commitment, visit www.chick-fil-a.com/no-antibiotics-ever.
Commitment to Customer Service
With a longstanding tradition in the restaurant industry for setting high standards in customer service, Chick-fil-A earned recognition for providing the "best fast food customer service in America" according to America's Best Customer Service 2020 report by Newsweek, among other honors.
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. For the latest news and updates on Chick-fil-A Manahawkin, visit the Chick-fil-A Manahawkin Facebook page and follow along on Instagram.
About Chick-fil-A, Inc.
Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A, Inc. is a family owned and privately held restaurant company founded in 1967 by S. Truett Cathy. Devoted to serving the local communities in which its franchised restaurants operate, and known for its Original Chick-fil-A® Chicken Sandwich, Chick-fil-A serves freshly prepared food in more than 2,700 restaurants in 47 states, Washington, D.C., and Canada.
A leader in customer service satisfaction, Chick-fil-A was named top fast food restaurant in Newsweek’s 2019 America’s Best Customer Service report and received several honors in QSR’s 2019 Reader’s Choice Awards, including “The Most Respected Quick-Service Brand” and “Best Brand for Overall Experience”. Additionally, Glassdoor named Chick-fil-A one of the top 100 best places to work in 2020. More information on Chick-fil-A is available at www.chick-fil-a.com.