MANSFIELD — Mayor Timothy Theaker announced this week that Chick fil-A will be bringing a food truck the next few weeks to test the waters in Richland County. Locals are thrilled by the prospects and point out the popular business brings more to the table than just chicken.
“My office was contacted by their company and we are pleased they have chosen Mansfield as a test site,” says Theaker. “A Chick-fil-A food truck will be coming to Mansfield on Thursdays to various locations within the city over the next few weeks to see if there is enough business to permanently locate a facility here in Mansfield.”
Several area officials are delighted about the prospects including Mansfield Councilman David Falquette, who chairs the Economic Development Committee. “Chick-fil-A is a highly desirable food franchise and Mansfield residents will enjoy supporting them. I trust Chick fil-A to choose a great location in Mansfield.”
State Representative Mark Romanchuk also gives his hearty approval of Chick fil-A, which claimed the top spot on the American Satisfaction Index for the fourth year in a row. The third largest food chain in the nation appears poised to locate at least one of its restaurants in the North Central Ohio area. Several area communities have made similar food truck announcements in Ashland and Wooster.
“I think it is great that Chick fil-A is exploring the Buckeye Bible Belt to determine feasible locations. With the tourist magnet BibleWalk, an active faith community, and geographical midpoint location, Mansfield would be ideal. This would be like manna from heaven if Chick fil-A locates a restaurant here.”
REVEREND EL AKUCHIE
“I think it is great that Chick fil-A is exploring the Buckeye Bible Belt to determine feasible locations,” says Reverend El Akuchie of the Richland Community Prayer Network. “With the tourist magnet BibleWalk, an active faith community, and geographical midpoint location, Mansfield would be ideal. This would be like manna from heaven if Chick fil-A locates a restaurant here.”
Akuchie believes the Interstate 71-State Route 13 interchange would provide the best location. “Exit 169 has an existing food court of 13 different restaurants, a commercial anchor in Wal Mart, and a nearby ski resort that draws motorist traffic during winter months.”
According to data from the Richland County Regional Planning Commission (RCRPC), State Route 13 near Exit 169 averaged 16,000 motorists in a twenty-four hour period in 2018. Ohio Department of Transportation counts an average of 57,000 motorists daily on I-71 near Exit 169 according to Transportation Technical Director Todd Blankenship of RCRPC. At one point, the McDonald’s on Hanley Hill West off of Exit 169 attracted the most customers in the nation during the 1980’s due to its proximity to the highway and central location between Cleveland and Columbus.
Local support has been building with a Richland County Loves Chick fil-A Facebook page gaining popularity. Reverend Randy Raynes of Mansfield Fellowship Baptist, has raised children and now grandchildren on Chick fil-A, and even wrote a poem featured on the company’s website. Raynes appreciates the restaurant chain’s observance of the Sabbath and its religious convictions despite the the risk of ruffling the feathers of its competitors.
“There is a lot of great restaurants with good food, but the attitude and compassion expressed by Chick fil-A thru their employees-whether it is a customer in the store or a local disaster in the area, you can see Christian compassion in it all. I appreciate the fact the company becomes a part of the community in more ways than just trying to separate people from their money.”
Chick-fil-A’s Remarkable Futures Initiative recently awarded $15.3 million in scholarships to restaurant team members. In 2018, the company’s philanthropic Chick-fil-A Foundation awarded $1.23 million to twenty-two non-profit organizations.
The Bottom Line:
The Bible says in Deuteronomy Eight, “When you have eaten your fill, give thanks to the LORD your GOD for the good land which He has given you.”
View video showing what one Chick fil-A franchise is doing for a community when it opens its doors in Arlington, Texas.
Where do we find the locations & times for the food truck in Mansfield? We obviously can’t support it if we don’t know where to find it.
Frontlines Ohio encourages you to monitor the Richland County Loves Chick fil-A Facebook page referenced in the above article. Thursday, July 18th the Mansfield First Presbyterian at 399 North Trimble Road in Mansfield will be hosting the Chick fil-A truck between 300-7:00 PM. An announcement is made each week on the location of the truck by the Mansfield Mayor. Look for future coverage on Chick fil-A on coming days on Frontlines Ohio.
WE HAVE DREAMED OF THE CHICK FIL A IN OUR AREA FOR SO LONG. NOT ONLY IS THE FOOD AMAZING BUT A PLACE CHRISTIANS CAN GO FOR WONDERFUL SERVICE AND KNOW GOD IS IN CONTROL. ALSO GOOD FOR UNBELIEVERS TO SEE HOW A ESTABLISHED CHRISTIAN COMPANY CAN NOT ONLY SURVIVE BEING CLOSED ON SUNDAY AND HAVE VALUES MAKES A GRAND MESSAGE. GOD BLESS YOU MORE AND MORE AS YOU MAKE DECISIONS ON WHERE. I AM SO READY 🙏🙏❤