Chick-fil-A breaks ground in Salem
SALEM – Hometown son Shaine Miles, the Chick-fil-A cows and Salem elected officials officially shoveled dirt and gravel with gold-painted shovels today to break ground for the long-awaited restaurant.
The free-standing restaurant will be located in front of Kmart on West Main Street, and is expected to open in April, Miles said.
Chick-fil-A lovers had been waiting and hoping for a Salem location for at least eight years, the length of time City of Salem had been negotiating with the national company to get a restaurant here. It will feature a 4,010 square-foot interior that seats 100 and a drive-thru, as well as an indoor play area with an interactive section for toddlers.
Miles, who has run a Chick-fil-A in Kentucky and will be owner-operator, concluded today’s ceremony with prayer, asking God’s blessing on the construction crews as well as future employees. With him and his wife Vanessa, who graduated from Glenvar High School, were Miles’ parents, Billy and Linda Miles, and one of his brothers, Travis, who works for the Roanoke County Sheriff’s Office.
Shaine Miles is part of the second generation of Miles family to own and run restaurants in the Salem area.
Retired Salem High School Coach Billy Miles and son Chad opened Billy’s Barn at Hanging Rock in Roanoke County in June. It is being renovated after a heating/air conditioning-related fire Nov. 7.
As it does at other new locations, Chick-fil-A plans to give away a one-year supply of free Chick-fil-A meals (to the first 100 adults in line on opening day.
The new restaurant is one of 75 stand-alone, in-line and drive-through locations Chick-fil-A plans to open across the country in 2012, Miles said.
Welcome, looking forward to the chicken sandwich
Why did they bring in corporate to run the place…don’t they have any homegrown people to run the place…