Vine City cheers groundbreaking of Westside’s first Chick-fil-A

In addition to a sophisticated green space that solves flooding issues, new-build housing for Atlanta police officers, and revitalized playgrounds, Vine City will soon welcome Chick-n-Strips™ and Grilled Chicken Cool Wraps®.

Dignitaries turned out Thursday in Vine City for the groundbreaking of Westside’s first Chick-fil-A, now under construction a mile due west of Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

The standalone restaurant is expected to employee about 90 full and part-time employees. The groundbreaking follows the job-placement success of Westside Works, which has helped some 500 people from Atlanta’s poorest neighborhoods find employment, thanks largely to a $15-million contribution from Arthur Blank.

The restaurant is expected to open rather quickly—by early 2018, in fact.

Chick-fil-A honchos joined Atlanta City Councilmember Ivory Young in announcing Quincy Springs, a neighborhood advocate, as the franchise owner.

A U.S. Army veteran, Springs previously served as store manager of Walmart in the Historic Westside Village, “managing store operations with 250 associates and fostering relationships with community leaders,” officials said.

The restaurant replaces what was most recently a vacant lot on the busy thoroughfare.

• Photos: Vine City’s flood-solving, centerpiece park has launched construction [Curbed]
• For Westside Atlanta homeowners, city unveils means to combat gentrification [Curbed]