Tag: Chick-fil-A

Food and Drink, New Business

Chick-fil-A Opens on SE Stark Street

On January 22nd, Portland’s first free-standing Chick-fil-A restaurant opened in the Gateway district across from Mall 205. The store is unique in several ways from the other locations in the outer Portland area. It has a larger kitchen than most stores, a kids’ play area less often included in new facilities, and no drive-through window. Instead of hosting lines of cars, the fast food destination will serve guests with a digitized version of a drive-in model, allowing customers to park and order via a mobile app, with meals brought to the vehicle. First-time franchise operator Austin Morrow has worked toward this moment since age sixteen, learning all he can about building an inclusive, family-oriented establishment.

Indoor playground structure featuring climbing features, slides, and hanging rings, in a brightly lit room.
Kids’ play area

For the last 12 years, Morrow has dedicated his career to Chick-fil-A, with the last four spent in the Leadership Development program. That helped in the competitive process to become an operator. In this franchise model, the company owns the restaurant building and equipment, but operators control the local business. “I have 100% flexibility. I rent the space from Chick-fil-A, but I am an independent business owner, and all the staff work in my organization here. I have direct influence on how I give back to the community, how I serve my team, and how I can offer opportunities for my team,” explained Morrow.

A smiling man in a blazer stands beside a large Chick-fil-A sign with a welcoming message, surrounded by colorful balloons and decorations.
Franchise operator Austin Morrow

Morrow moved to the area last September, but had visited before when considering the opportunity. “When I was looking at coming to Portland, I went down [to the Clackamas location] and met with Brian Davis, the operator there. Just like me, he’s from the south, and he moved his family up here,” said Morrow. What he found was that most people did not have direct experience with the company on the West Coast, which allowed operators to shape the experience in a meaningful way. “In the south, Chick-fil-A is everywhere, so to be able to come to a community where it might be that first bite… there’s something special about when you’re sharing that first impression.”

A tidy dining area featuring wooden tables and metal chairs with black seat cushions, decorated with vases of roses at each table. Bright natural light streams in through large windows, providing a welcoming atmosphere.

Unlike the auto-focused Clackamas store, this location will need to serve customers arriving in a variety of ways. “I think we’re going to be pretty foot traffic heavy,” said Morrow. “We have a lot of people who walk or use public transportation. Even my team members live really local in the community and walk here to work, so I think we will be a high foot traffic area.” Additionally, the city’s building code did not allow them to build a standard fast-food restaurant targeting people in vehicles. The Portland City Council voted in 2018 to prohibit new drive-through construction within commercial zones. Although this project is a near-complete renovation of an existing building, the structure never included a drive-through service window, which prevents it from qualifying for a prior-existence exemption. This project dates back to May 2022, when the national fast food chain explored development at 9950 SE Stark Street, opting to renovate the original structure to maintain its nonconforming use of the existing site for food service. The 1984-era structure previously hosted Rax Roast Beef, Tony Roma’s, and Hooters restaurants before converting to Mystic Gentlemen’s Club and later Venue Gentlemen’s Club.

Exterior view of a building entrance with a sign for 'Delivery Drivers' and curbside order markers.
Delivery Driver entrance and numbered parking stalls for app orders staff will bring to customer’s cars

Although they have improved pedestrian infrastructure around the property, the freeway-adjacent location will continue to attract motorists. Without the drive-through option, Morrow and his staff will be creative to meet customer demand. “We have 15 curbside spots where we’ll be offering a similar experience [to other locations] where you don’t have to get out of the car, and we’ll bring the food to you,” said Austin Morrow. “They can order ahead of time, or they could park and then order in the parking spot.” The dedicated and numbered stalls are at the northwest corner of the parking lot, adjacent to the delivery driver entrance. People working with DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub have a dedicated, inside, welcoming space to pick up orders. Delivery apps can make up 10 to 30% of a day’s orders, and having the separated space helps get them on the road faster without imposing on customers in line.

Interior of a fast-food restaurant kitchen featuring a checkout counter with a payment terminal, promotional signage for free beverages, and organized shelves with kitchen equipment.
Delivery Driver pickup counter

Morrow said that customer experience is paramount to his efforts in Portland, but he also wants to support the nearly 100 employees joining his team. “My mission is to exceed the expectations of my guests and my team members. I want to be a premier employer for the team that’s working here, explained Morrow. At the base level, that is with a paycheck and a meal. “Sometimes we’ll have team members who come in and may not have food at home. This [shift] may be their only opportunity. So I want to make sure that they can have a hot meal for free that day.” Morrow said that he also wants to help his staff beyond their time at Chick-fil-A. “One thing I’m going to offer is I’m offering is a program where they can go to college. If you can work 30 hours a week, that will enable you to be able to go to college and hope for a better future. Because it’s not my hope that someone joins this organization and stays here for the rest of their life.”

Interior view of a restaurant featuring modern decor with wooden accents, red pendant lights, and tables set with small vases of roses.

In addition to staff support, the organization encourages locations to participate in the Chick-fil-A Shared Table program, donating leftover protein to groups feeding the community. Morrow selected the Highland Christian Center to receive unserved food items that are cooled and ready for storage for use in the church’s meal program at 7600 NE Glisan Street. With this program, community kitchens will receive unused chicken that can be incorporated into other dishes. So recipients will not get the traditional sandwiches and may not know where the protein came from, but the leftover food will go to good use, feeding people with limited access to food. This philosophy of sharing food started even before the doors opened. “We’ve been training here [ahead of opening] so we actually donated a thousand sandwiches within the community, and so we use that as an opportunity to train our team,” said Morrow.

Interior of a Chick-fil-A restaurant featuring a long table with red chairs and several gift bags with pink tissue paper lined up on top.

Morrow explained that he is committed to joining the community and improving the area around his store. “I want people to feel that local ownership aspect. We operate under a large brand that says Chick-fil-A, but I want people in the community to feel like this is a local organization.” He expressed how much he appreciates Portland’s cultural and intellectual diversity, noting that people have been far more welcoming than he anticipated. “It’s my hope that when you come into my restaurant, you’re going to see through my team members, all different backgrounds, all different walks of life. And it’s my hope that we can create a culture in our community that everyone is welcome in this restaurant,” said Morrow. Starting today, the Chick-fil-A Mall 205 location will open from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday. They anticipate significant demand during the first few days and recommend people consider parking in the Mall 205 parking lot and crossing SE Washington Street if the main parking lot is full.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Greg Beddor – SEO Specialist, an Oregon based digital marketing consultancy. The company markets customer’s websites and provide SEO services to grow their business. We thank them for their support.

Infrastructure, New Business, View of Montavilla

New Pedestrian Infrastructure Opens Around Chick-fil-A

As Portland’s first free-standing Chick-fil-A restaurant prepares to open in early 2026, pedestrians traveling around the Mall 205 area in the Gateway district gain access to wider sidewalks with street furniture offering places to rest. Recently, crews removed construction fencing around the new fast food destination at 9950 SE Stark Street, fully opening the area to street users.

Concrete seating pods and newly reconstructed sidewalk along SE 99th Avenue near the upcoming Chick-fil-A location in Portland, with trees and street furniture enhancing pedestrian accessibility.
Cluster of three round concrete seating on the southeast corner of SE 99th and Stark St

Construction work at this restaurant location began last April, triggering requirements for sidewalk and curb ramp reconstruction to meet modern standards for its Civic Main Street classification on the south and north sides of the site. Improvements to the 15-foot public right-of-way feature street trees planted between the curb and pedestrian through zone, offering a buffer between the fast-paced traffic on the SE Stark Street and Washington Street couplet. Chick-fil-A contractors installed round concrete seating pods along the property’s SE 99th Avenue frontage with a cluster of three on the southeast corner of SE 99th and Stark Street. A new traffic signal pole at the northeast corner of SE 99th and Washington Street features mounting points for future mast arms to support traffic lights, replacing the antiquated cable-hung hardware at the intersection. An additional mounting bracket at the top of the pole has a place for a new street light to further illuminate this high-volume crossing, while building-hung sconces add human-scale lighting.

Close-up of a traffic signal pole with mounting points for future traffic lights and a new street light, set against a blue sky.
Mounting points on a new traffic signal pole at the northeast corner of SE 99th and Washington St. for future mast arms to support traffic lights

The Portland building code mandated many pedestrian improvements along the three frontages of this 0.78-acre property. These upgrades serve the district as a whole as it becomes less car-centric. However, this restaurant’s patrons may depend on these updates, as there is expected to be higher foot traffic here than at other Chick-fil-A stores in the area. The Portland City Council voted in 2018 to prohibit new drive-through construction within commercial zones. Although this project is a near-complete renovation of an existing building, the structure never included a drive-through service window. This project dates back to May 2022, when the national fast food chain explored development at 9950 SE Stark Street, opting to renovate the original structure to maintain its nonconforming use of the existing site for food service. The 1984-era structure previously hosted Rax Roast Beef, Tony Roma’s, and Hooters restaurants before converting to Mystic Gentlemen’s Club and later Venue Gentlemen’s Club.

Exterior view of the new Chick-fil-A at Mall 205 showing large windows, modern lighting fixtures, and sidewalk planters.
SE 99th Avenue frontage with human-scale lighting and seating

Without a drive-through window, most motorists will need to park onsite and enter the establishment for service. Other Chick-fil-A locations have been known to create traffic jams at times as drivers queue for in-vehicle sales. At this new location, people may need to park at another location and walk over for service during peak times. To help speed up orders and clear the parking lot more quickly, operators will implement digital tools for customers. “We will be offering curbside delivery as an alternative,” wrote a store social media representative on Facebook. This will require more staff time but will allow customers to remain in their vehicles. Additionally, this restaurant features a dedicated delivery driver entrance so people can order via smartphone apps and have their food brought to them.

Exterior view of the new Chick-fil-A location at 9950 SE Stark Street in Portland, featuring signs for delivery drivers, a tree, and nearby street furniture.
Delivery driver entrance

Franchise operator for this location, Austin Morrow, has worked for Chick-fil-A since 2014. In this specific franchise model, the property, building, and equipment are owned by the corporation, with individuals competing to become the location’s operator. The “Chick-fil-A Mall 205” store will be Portland’s only location within city limits since the Lloyd Center food court location closed in 2003. Community members have mixed opinions on the opening. Some are excited for the renowned chicken sandwich provider to come in and revitalize a commercial corridor that has experienced a decline in previous decades. Others worry about the increased traffic near the Interstate 205 ramps caused by this new high-demand destination. Additional perspectives oppose the company as a whole because of the ownership’s support for organizations that oppose LGBTQ rights.

A new sidewalk and landscaping along SE Stark Street near the upcoming Chick-fil-A Mall 205, featuring newly planted trees and a clear pedestrian path.
New wider sidewalk on SE Washington St. with street trees

The operator of Chick-fil-A Mall 205 has yet to announce an official opening date, but indicated it will welcome guests soon. Regardless of the restaurant’s impact on the business district and community, the renovations of this former strip club have improved the public infrastructure on this half block. The corporate endorsement of the area could also incentivize other investments along the corridor, spurring redevelopment with infrastructure improvements and denser land use, fitting the Gateway District’s Central Commercial zoning that encourages city-center-sized projects.

Update January 18, 2026: The Chick-fil-A Mall 205 location will open from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday starting Thursday, January 22nd.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Greg Beddor – SEO Specialist, an Oregon based digital marketing consultancy. The company markets customer’s websites and provide SEO services to grow their business. We thank them for their support.

Construction, Demolition, Top 2025

Work on SE Stark Chick-fil-A Underway

In April, crews began converting an adult entertainment venue into Portland’s first Chick-fil-A restaurant within city limits since the Lloyd Center food court location closed in 2003. This project dates back to May 2022, when the national fast food chain explored development at 9950 SE Stark Street, opting to renovate the original structure to maintain its nonconforming use of the existing site. The 1984-era structure previously hosted Rax Roast Beef, Tony Roma’s, and Hooters restaurants before converting to Mystic Gentlemen’s Club and later Venue Gentlemen’s Club.

View of a partially renovated building under construction, with exposed wooden structure and fencing around the site, located on SE Stark Street.
9950 SE Stark Street stripped to its studs ahead of renovation (Jacob Loeb)

Complete demolition of the building would have required denser use of the rezoned property and prohibited the use as a single-story restaurant, so workers stripped the building down to its studs and repurposed existing structural elements in the new design. This property is in the Gateway Urban Renewal Area, which city planners hoped would become a second downtown. The Gateway District is predominantly zoned as Central Commercial (CX). City planners expect new developments in this area to maximize density and encourage urban activities. The CX zone allows projects with tall buildings placed close together. Developers working in this zone should create pedestrian-oriented structures that strongly emphasize a safe and attractive streetscape. To avoid the minimum density requirements in the CX zone, the Chick-fil-A on SE Stark Street must reuse the original building. Portland allows noncomplying use within a zone when the building predates the new standards and only expects zone compliance to occur when property owners significantly redevelop the site. The status of nonconforming structures is not affected by changes in ownership or tenants. The project’s initial demolition and drive-thru-oriented redevelopment plan would have needed to adhere to the CX standards. This renovation plan will create a Chick-fil-A that is different from most of the restaurant’s other locations without a drive-through option, but it will retain nonconforming status by maintaining the usage pattern of previous tenants.

  • April 2025 (Jacob Loeb)
  • January 2025 (Jacob Loeb)

An early morning fire at the location on January 4th  almost hampered redevelopment plans. However, Portland Fire & Rescue’s quick response kept the damage to a minimum and preserved most of the structure. This event was just one of the obstacles this project faced over the years. Chick-fil-A remained committed to buying this property even as its storied history played out in court with a 32-year-old man found guilty this month for a deadly shooting at this location in April 2024.

Firefighters responding to an emergency at the Venue Gentlemen's Club building, showcasing the structure's exterior with a sign and emergency lighting.
Firefighters working outside the shuttered Venue Gentlemen’s Club entrance. Photo by Dennis Weis, courtesy PF&R.

Over the next few months, crews will rework the facade and roof to incorporate a new entry vestibule. Sidewalk improvements around the site will join updates to the parking lot and ramp additions to increase accessible entry to the restaurant. Workers will restructure the interior with an all-new layout, including restrooms, a play area, a sit-down dining room, and kitchen space to meet the Chick-fil-A standards. People should anticipate sidewalk and lane closures around the property as workers transform this site. After crews complete the renovation, area residents should expect increased traffic around the property border by SE Stark Street, Washington Street, and 99th Avenue. The chicken-centric fast food company tends to draw many patrons, and its lack of drive-through service may exceed its onsite parking capacity, diverting drivers into other area parking. However, the property will have a designated “Delivery Drivers” area for app-based service providers taking orders directly to customers offsite.

Although the building will mostly retain its original footprint and parking lot, people should soon see a different level of customer interaction at this site, and it has the potential to draw in new visitors from the adjacent Interstate 205 commuter looking for a quick meal. Increased visitors at one location can improve surrounding locations’ sales but may also draw customers from local competitors. Chick-fil-A’s impact on the Gateway District will take years to materialize. Still, people have expressed appreciation for the change in business at that location and will appreciate seeing the site more active.

Update January 1, 2026: Construction is nearly complete and the franchisee anticipates opening the location in early 2026.

Exterior view of a Chick-fil-A restaurant under construction, featuring a fenced area, signage, and an entryway with large windows. The surrounding street includes sidewalk improvements and traffic signals.

By

Jacob Loeb

Correction: The article was updated to acknowledge the Lloyd Center food court location that closed in 2003.

Food and Drink, Renovation, Restaurant, Top 2025, View of Montavilla

Fire at Future Chick-fil-A Restaurant

Portland Fire & Rescue responded to an early morning fire inside the shuttered Venue Gentlemen’s Club at 9950 SE Stark Street. The national chain chicken sandwich company, Chick-fil-A Inc., owns the approximately 7,012 square-foot building. Firefighters arrived just before 3 a.m. on January 4th, reportedly observing heavy smoke coming from the structure. Upon entering the building, crews found signs of a ceiling fire and called in a second alarm assignment. Within 20 minutes, crews had the fire under control and found no signs of injury within the building.

Firefighters working outside the shuttered Venue Gentlemen’s Club entrance. Photo by Dennis Weis, courtesy PF&R.

Chick-fil-A Inc. completed the purchase of this property in November 2024, less than a month after the adult entertainment company leasing the space ceased operations on October 26th. This building is located between SE Stark and SE Washington Streets on SE 99th Avenue, just across SE Washington Street from the Mall 205 complex that new investors purchased in January 2022. Several real estate and commercial property interests are investing in properties within this formerly bustling retail center in the Gateway District. Chick-fil-A joins other national chains like Chipotle Mexican Grill, which are continuing efforts to reestablish this area as a commercial corridor for East Portland. Despite the big-name brands moving into some storefronts in this area, the new owners of Plaza 205 are courting a cohort of Asian American owned businesses blocks east of the future Chick-fil-A location, offering more retail diversity to the area’s revival.

North side smoke damage and signs of firefighter efforts to cut power (Jacob Loeb)

Based on visible damage, the fire at 9950 SE Stark Street is unlikely to change plans for the Chick-fil-A project significantly. The building’s overhaul includes substantial renovations while maintaining the general shape of the 1984-era building. Motorists will maintain parking lot access from the two existing SE Washington Street and SE Stark Street driveways. However, guests will need to park their vehicles at this fast food location as the building will not offer a drive-through window. Crews will rework the facade and roof to incorporate a new entry vestibule. Sidewalk improvements around the site will join the parking lot and ramp additions to increase accessible entry to the restaurant. Workers will restructure the interior with all new restrooms, a play area, a sit-down dining room, and kitchen space to meet the Chick-fil-A standards. The existing free-standing sign by each entrance will lose its lower panel letter boards, and contractors will refresh them with Chick-fil-A branding. Illuminated channel letter signs spelling the restaurant’s name will adorn the sides of the building. Permit plans indicate this store will display a “Delivery Drivers” sign directing the app-based service providers to a designated area for pickup, perhaps signaling an anticipated elevated demand for that option.

Venue Gentlemen’s Club post closing October 2024 (Jacob Loeb)

Fire investigators are still working to determine what sparked the blaze. If Portland Permitting & Development approves plans currently under review, crews could begin construction at this property in 2025. However, fire damage could further complicate this project, which has taken years to develop.

By

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Otter Wax, a neighborhood producer of small-batch specialty goods handcrafted in Portland. Using only natural ingredients, they make modern care products that are steeped in tradition. We thank them for their support.

Construction, Crime, Food and Drink, New Business

SE Stark Chick-fil-A Moves Forward at Recent Homicide Site

The site of an April 1st homicide will become a new Chick-fil-A restaurant after the City approves permits. Since 2022, franchise designers have worked to gain approval for a new chain chicken sandwich shop at 9950 SE Stark Street. The approximately 7,012 square foot building hosted several establishments over its years, including Tony Roma’s, Hooters, Mystic Gentlemen’s Club, and now Venue Gentlemen’s Club. It was outside this current adult entertainment business that responding Portland Police officers found one person with life-threatening injuries and a second person deceased on that early April evening.

On Friday, April 12, members of the Vancouver Police Department and the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force arrested the suspected April 1st shooter in Washington State. The 31-year-old Portland resident is awaiting extradition to Multnomah County from the Clark County Jail, where law enforcement officials are holding him on warrants for Murder and Attempted Murder. The suspect’s apprehension resolves immediate concerns regarding this most recent spike in violence in a commercial area struggling to come back from its decline.

This parcel sits across SE Washington Street from the Mall 205 complex that sold to new investors in January 2022. As the new ownership works to remake that formerly bustling retail center, several area tenants have vacated the area. However, other big-name companies have remained in existing locations while other new chain stores look to establish a foothold in this central corridor.

Portland City officials recently approved a design review for the future Chick-fil-A restaurant to replace Venue Gentlemen’s Club. The 1984-era building will receive substantial upgrades inside and out. Motorists will maintain parking lot access from the two existing SE Washington Street and SE Stark Street driveways. However, guests will need to leave their vehicles at this fast food location as the building will not offer a drive-through window. Crews will rework the façade and roof to incorporate a new entry vestibule. Sidewalk improvements around the site will join the parking lot and ramp additions to increase accessible entry to the restaurant. Workers will restructure the interior with all new restrooms, a play area, a sit-down dining room, and kitchen space to meet the Chick-fil-A standards.

After years of preliminary work on this proposed restaurant, project planners have recently moved to the permitting phase, making this site’s transformation likely to proceed. The permitting process can take significant time to secure City approvals. According to an Oregonian/OregonLive article from May 2023, Venue Gentlemen’s Club will remain at this site on SE Stark Street until they can secure a new location. The presence of a Chick-fil-A location can often change the character of a street, drawing many patrons. Its addition to the business roster for the area could bolster the efforts of Mall 205’s rehabilitation along with other shopping additions planned for neighboring commercial spaces. People should expect construction at 9950 SE Stark Street to begin soon after permits are approved and the existing tenant vacates the space.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account or you can pay directly online. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscribers or sponsors. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.

Business Closing, Food and Drink, New Business, Restaurant, View of Montavilla

Chipotle to Replace Baja Fresh at Mall 205

Earlier this year, Mexican-themed fast-casual restaurant Baja Fresh closed its 10090 SE Washington Street location at the outer edge of Mall 205. Last week, architects working for the Chipotle chain submitted building permits for a new store at the same address. Both brands position themselves in a similar space within the corporate foodservice marketplace. However, Chipotle offers a smaller menu of core items and substantially more locations than Baja Fresh.

Recently, all Baja Fresh franchise locations in Portland have ceased operations, including the Mall 205 store. Both of these fast-casual dining brands started in the early 1990s and attracted many of the same customers. Baja Fresh was first to the Portland market and established a strong presence. However, early investment from the McDonald’s corporation helped launch Chipotle into a national brand. McDonald’s divested financial interest in Chipotle by 2006, but by then, the restaurants specializing in bowls, tacos, and Mission burritos had already become well-known across the United States, outpacing many competitors.

Chipotle location map with MV News illustrations

The Mall 205 Chipotle is several months away from opening. Building permits for a new serving area, restrooms, office, commercial kitchen, and walk-in cooler are pending approval. Plans can change anytime and may not result in the store’s opening. However, this location fills a service gap for the company, situated between its Cascade Station and Clackamas Town Center stores. This Mall 205 Chipotle location would join another popular fast-food chain planned for this area. This month, Chick-fil-A received approval to construct a restaurant within the existing structure at 9950 SE Stark Street. Both these developments will increase traffic to the area during peak dining times. However, they will not offer drive-through service and both have on-site parking available, reducing the likelihood that lines will back up onto the street.

Update: This location will open on July 23rd.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News has a Patreon account. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to please consider becoming a paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.

Construction, Demolition, Food and Drink, New Business, View of Montavilla

Proposed Chick-fil-A on SE Stark

This month, the Chick-fil-A development team continued their preliminary work on redeveloping 9950 SE Stark Street. Designers have modified the project from the Early Assistance meeting last May. The current Early Assistance no longer seeks to demolish the approximately 7,012 square foot building or construct a drive-thru lane on the property. Instead, crews will rehabilitate the existing structure to host the fast food restaurant with 98 indoor seats. Plans still include some outdoor seating.

Currently zoned as Central Commercial (CX), City planners expect new developments on this property to maximize density and encourage urban activities. The CX zone allows projects with tall buildings placed close together. Developers working in this zone should create pedestrian-oriented structures with a strong emphasis on a safe and attractive streetscape. The proposed project on SE Stark Street will be a nonconforming use of the existing site. Portland allows noncomplying use within a zone when the building predates the new standards and only expects zone compliance to occur when property owners significantly redevelop the site. The status of nonconforming structures is not affected by changes in ownership or tenant. The project’s initial demolition and drive-thru-oriented redevelopment plan would need to adhere to the CX standards. This new renovation plan will create a different Chick-fil-A than most of the restaurant’s other locations but retain its nonconforming status and maintain the usage pattern of previous tenants.

The single-story structure, first built in 1984, hosted a wide range of restaurants and entertainment venues over the years. Rax Roast Beef owned the property until 1990. Recent tenets included Tony Roma’s restaurant, Hooters, Mystic Gentlemen’s Club, and Venue Gentlemen’s Club. If approved, Chick-fil-A will shift this location’s use back towards general fast food and away from adult-orientated services. The lack of a drive-thru window will limit some of the traffic impact experienced by the change in use. However, based on other Chick-fil-A locations, this could become one of the most popular destinations in the surrounding blocks and attract additional vehicles to the area. The project is likely months away from approval and may fail to move beyond the planning phase. Look for permit applications sometime next year if the City approves this site’s reuse.

Article originally published May 13th, 2022.

A recent land-use Early Assistance application indicates Chick-fil-A may soon open a new restaurant on SE Stark Street. If approved, developers will demolish the 1984-era building and construct a new fast food restaurant with a drive-thru window. Located at 9950 SE Stark Street, the 36,590 square-foot half-block property currently houses an adult entertainment club and bar.

The Chick-fil-A development team intends to construct a 4,991 square foot building with 98 indoor seats for guests. Outdoor canopies and an outdoor eating area with 12 patio seats would surround the new building. The property sits between SE Stark and SE Washington Streets, aligned at SE 99th Avenue near Mall 205. The site offers a variety of vehicle access points and is near the number 15 TriMet bus line. Other Chick-fil-A restaurants tend to attract many visitors, sometimes with lines spilling onto the neighboring street. However, this proposed Chick-fil-A is just six miles from the Clackamas restaurant and seven miles from the Gresham location. That density of stores may reduce peak demand for the proposed eatery and avoid traffic issues sometimes seen at other Chick-fil-A sites.

Developers use Early Assistance applications during the pre-planning phase of a project. Many proposals do not continue past this stage, and this Chick-fil-A may never materialize in this location. However, the addition of a popular destination restaurant in the area could draw in more visitors and improve business for neighboring stores. Expect to see updates regarding building permits if this project moves forward.

By

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News has a Patreon account. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to please consider becoming a paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.