Countdown is on: 3 days until Chick-fil-A opens in O'Hara

Major buzz is surrounding the opening of Chick-fil-A in O’Hara this week, with hordes of hungry customers clamoring for waffle fries while others are voicing concern about traffic tangles from the fast food hot spot along Freeport Road.

The nation’s top-rated food chain is set to open Thursday in a freestanding store in Fox Chapel Plaza.

The restaurant is expected to create 100 full- and part-time jobs, company representatives said.

Just last week, Chick-fil-A posted an open call on social media to draw job-seekers 16 and older who want to work in the kitchen or with food preparation.

Micah Skipper, the independent franchise owner, said hours will be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. All Chick-fil-A stores are closed on Sundays, following the company’s faith-based policy.

The restaurant will offer drive-thru, mobile curbside and mobile carryout service. Third-party delivery also will be offered in coming weeks.

Social media has been ablaze for weeks leading up to the opening, with some commenting that they are “elated” to no longer have to make the trek to North Hills or Monroeville for a spicy chicken sandwich. Others are dreading what they fear will be gridlock at the far end of the plaza with limited entrances onto the already busy Freeport Road.

Township Manager Julie Jakubec said the township required a detailed traffic plan and that Engineer Chuck Steinert worked with the restaurant’s management team to satisfy any concerns.

Jakubec said that Chick-fil-A has an opening team that specifically addresses these issues.

“We want to ensure that all drive-thru traffic is handled in the plaza parking lot and that the ingress and egress points are not impacted,” she said.

Township police will also monitor traffic related to the opening and make sure issues are handled quickly, she said.

Skipper addressed the concerns, saying safety is a top priority and that he is thrilled with the outpouring of support from the community.

“We recognize there are some associated traffic concerns, and we have been actively working with local authorities to identify the best possible solutions that consider the needs of our customers, neighbors and team members,” Skipper said.

Customers will find signs posted around Fox Chapel Plaza to assist with the flow of vehicles in and out of the property. The restaurant will also feature multiple drive-thru lanes, he said, along with mobile curbside and mobile carryout service to alleviate traffic in the lines.

Skipper previously owned a Chick-fil-A in Morgantown Mall in West Virginia. To celebrate the opening, his newest restaurant will be surprising 100 local heroes making an impact in Allegheny County with free restaurant food for a year.

The restaurant also plans to donate $25,000 to Feeding America, with the money distributed to partners within the Pittsburgh region fight against hunger.

It has been nearly two years since company officials first approached O’Hara council with the proposal to bring Chick-fil-A to the Lower Valley.

The restaurant will take the place of another quick-serve favorite, Rita’s Ice.

The Georgia-based company operates more than 2,600 sites across the country.