Chick-Fil-A’s buzz has been confirmed. The specialized chicken restaurant Florida A&M University has been waiting for will arrive October 8.
Alan Bergman, general manager of Metz Culinary Management at FAMU, ensures Chick-Fil-A will bring its customers a good experience.
“The expectation is that we will be perfect from day one, but realistically there will be a learning curve. Chick-Fil-A will be bringing in trainers and key personnel to assist our team in providing a fantastic experience for our guests,” Bergman said. “The lines will be long, but we will be providing the Chick-Fil-A experience that you have come to expect.”
The restaurant will be open Monday through Saturday and closed on Sunday. Monday through Thursday it will be open from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. On Friday, it will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. On Saturday, it will be open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Bergman hopes all restaurants on campus will greatly enhance the quality of life for our students, faculty and staff.
“I believe we have greatly enhanced the dining experience at FAMU for all of our guests. When the word Culinary is part of your name, food must take center stage. We strive to have 75 to 80 percent of the items on the salad bar not come from a can. We are bringing cutting edge concepts to FAMU,” Bergman said.
When management sets a date, they hope to give out giveaways at the Chick-Fil-A’s grand opening.
Bergman said working on the Chick-Fil-A project has had its ups and downs.
“The most exciting thing about the project was the smiles on the faces of the students when they found out this was going to happen,” Bergman said. “The worst part has been how long it took to get to the opening.” The DCay Group, out of Pompano Beach, Fla., is the construction company responsible for the renovations.
Chick-Fil-A was chosen based on the results of a survey that was conducted by FAMU. It will be on campus as long as the demand for it is high.
Devin Jordan, 26-year-old graphic design senior at FAMU from Monticello, Fla., is excited about the grand opening.
“With Chick-Fil-A on campus now, I can enjoy delicious foods I love for inexpensive prices,” Jordan said.
The Chick-Fil-A will be an express location. The menu is limited, but it will provide what the guests want. It will not be able to serve desserts or breakfast for a year. Chick-Fil-A wants to serve perfect chicken sandwiches and fries before they venture on to breakfast and desserts.
Anthony Hills, 24-year-old graphic design senior at FAMU from Tallahassee, Fla., does not mind the limited menu.
“I enjoy the real chicken sandwiches. That’s enough to keep me full. It’s the best thing on the menu,” Hills said.
Students can apply to work at the new Chick-Fil-A by stopping by the main office, located in the Student Service Center, and filling out an application.
Metz might be exploring the possibility of slightly renovating the main dining hall next summer. Nothing has been finalized yet, but for more information students can go to: www.metzfamu.com, Facebook at metzatfamu, Twitter at Metz_at_FAMU and Snapshot at famu_metz.