The shutdown of the popular lunch spot, Sweet Tomatoes, back in September of 2022 made space for a new Chick-fil-A on Hopyard Road. On April 18, the new store had its grand opening.
The opening grandeur
The first day was slow, mainly because of the need for more spotlight on the grand opening. Nevertheless, managers and staff were actively engaged in taking orders and welcoming customers.
“Today has been a pretty easy-going day. We expect a lot more business to come when word-of-mouth spreads about the Chick-fil-A opening,” said a manager.
The inside of the restaurant is spacious and cozy. Despite not having a drive-through, the store has an entire separate room lined with couches for mobile and online orders. The main room has multiple booths, giving it a more cozy and family-fit ambiance.
“I like this new interior design. It feels less hectic than the Chick-fil-A down the street over, which makes sense since it used to be a Sweet Tomatoes,” said customer Jake Bauman.
The store boasts a notably spacious parking lot compared to other fast-food establishments. Furthermore, with so much expected business coming to Chick-fil-A, it is a bright prospect for neighboring shops like Starbucks.
“I really like about this new Chick-fil-A is the amount of parking space around it. Like at the other one, I’m always fighting for a spot in its tight lot. But this one there’s spaces everywhere I go,” said customer Dallas Lee.
Two Chick-fil-A’s in Pleasanton
The proximity of the new Chick-fil-A to its older counterpart, just over a mile away on the same road, presents an intriguing scenario. Will customers confuse the two establishments and emerge as the preferred choice?
“I think one thing that will get really confusing is online orders. I already have trouble with directions, and to have these two restaurants like half a mile away from each other. I feel like online orders will get confusing for customers,” said customer Zoe Lindstrom.
The opening of the new Chick-fil-A on Hopyard Road following the closure of Sweet Tomatoes presents an intriguing scenario for the local dining landscape. With its spacious interior and ample parking, it will certainly draw customers from around the town.
