By Adam Smith

The North Jefferson News



The franchisee of Chick-fil-A in Gardendale was recently granted a second location in Fultondale.

The new restaurant, to be located between the new Arby’s and forthcoming Chili’s on Walker Chapel Road, will open in April 2008. The Gardendale Chick-fil-A is located on Fieldstown Road.

Mike Holmes of Chick-fil-A in Gardendale described the process by which Chick-fil-A chooses a franchise owner as “intense.” He said it’s even more intense when an existing franchise owner applies to open a second location. “They’re not big fans of selling two franchises to an individual,” Holmes said.

Chick-fil-A takes about 12,000 applications a year from franchisee hopefuls, but only opens 60 new stores a year. Holmes said only about 100 franchisees operate more than one store.

Currently, the Atlanta-based company operates more than 1,340 locations in 37 states and Washington, D.C., with annual sales of $2 billion.

Holmes said the company looks at three criteria, including performance at the existing store, whether or not the owner has the capacity to operate a second store and trade area, which has to be within an 8-mile radius of the existing store.

“If it doesn’t fall within that radius, they’ll give it to another candidate,” he said. “But the first step is to make sure the performance is there.”

Holmes said the Chick-fil-A in Gardendale exceeded $3 million in sales in 2007, a milestone for the store. However, he said the second location could decrease those numbers next year. The Fultondale store will be plainly visible from Interstate 65 and he said drivers traveling north may be more likely to stop at the that location first.

“If we can make up the difference in Fultondale, then it’s a win-win,” he said.

Fultondale Mayor Jim Lowery said the opening of the store will act as a test to find out if two of the same restaurant can be successful in such a close proximity.

“It’ll show us something with the off-ramps,” Lowery said. “WIth one store on both off-ramps, they obviously think they can be successful.”

He said he was also pleased to have Holmes managing the store. “He does a great job at the one in Gardendale and we’re very pleased to have him at this one.”

Holmes said one of his primary objectives is for the store to become as involved in the Fultondale community as it has been in Gardendale. Holmes and his wife, Jan, are both members of the Gardendale and Fultondale chambers of commerce, regularly attend fund-raisers and community events and are active in area schools.

Jan Holmes, marketing director for both locations, said the store would become more involved in the Fultondale community. However, she said while the Gardendale store is a community store, the Fultondale store’s success may depend more on transients who shop at the Colonial Promenade shopping center.

“We’re going to have to find a way to create relationships with the community and retailers and try to grow the area,” Jan Holmes said. “It’s going to be a harder store to market.”

The Holmes found out they were granted the second location in November, but Mike Holmes said he had been developing his staff’s management skills over the past several months. He said the business recently rented office space in Gardendale so employees can receive additional training outside of the confines of work.

“In a month, we’re going to be heavy on leadership, but it will make the Fultondale transition that much smoother,” he said. “That has been my comfort about having two stores, because I know I can do the things I need to do.”

Those things include the ability to be able to perform every job at the restaurant, if needed. However, Holmes said he often enjoyed staying out in the dining area and just talking to patrons and getting to know members of the community.

“We’re very excited,” Holmes said about the Fultondale store’s opening. “I’m so blessed to be a part of Chick-fil-A. … I’m very humbled to be a part of a company like this.”