Chick-fil-A pop-up eyes potential downtown restaurant
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Go through the doorway, and take a right. Photo: Travis Meier/Axios
A Chick-fil-A pop-up inside Commerce Bank tower is testing the potential of a permanent downtown restaurant, store sales director Bill Rabb tells Axios.
Why it matters: Chick-fil-A's first foray into Kansas City's urban core will depend on pop-up traffic over the trial period, Rabb says.
- "If things keep going the way the last three hours have gone, I don't think you'll get us out of here with a crowbar," Rabb told us hours after opening Monday.
How it works: The pop-up — at 1000 Walnut St. — is put on by the owner of the 113th and Nall franchise in Overland Park.
- There's no on-site prep yet, so restaurant workers transport food to the pop-up in catering boxes to keep the chicken hot, which it was.
Context: "When we surveyed downtown residents a couple summers ago about retail … Chick-fil-A was one of the top retailers they said they wanted," Tommy Wilson, a business director for the Downtown Council, told Axios.
- Chick-fil-A was ranked the No. 5 overall desired retail outlet but was the top-ranked restaurant, according to the 2023 survey, which recorded 582 responses.
- Target, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods and Hy-Vee rounded out the top five.
Behind the scenes: The two-story pop-up space is outfitted with everything a restaurant needs — Rabb showed Axios the kitchen, which includes a range hood and walk-in fridge.
- Fries aren't on the menu yet, but the friers could be installed anytime.
Stop by: The pop-up is open Monday-Friday from 7:30am-2pm.
- A limited morning menu includes chicken biscuits, chicken minis and a breakfast burrito, plus sides and lemonade.
- Lunchtime sandwiches arrive around 11am.
- Parking is available on Walnut Street.
- There's no drive-thru.
What they're saying: "No reason why this [location] couldn't be one that would stick," Rabb says. "In New York, there's one every four blocks. It's time we started acting like New York, isn't it? We're big time. We got Patrick Mahomes here."
What's next: Jared Campbell of the Downtown Council says the pop-up will be open for at least three months.
- "The first 30 days is the trial," Rabb said. "The pop-up will stay open if it remains busy."