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Chick-fil-A, a national restaurant chain known for its lineup of grilled chicken entrees, plans to open a restaurant with inside eating and drive-through service across from the Larkspur Hotel in a shopping center that also includes In-N-Out and Denny’s restaurants.
Plans for the 5,399-square-foot restaurant with a double drive-through have been approved by the Pleasanton Planning Commission and will go to the City Council for final approval Dec. 2.
The restaurant will be located on a half-acre parcel that can be reached off Johnson Drive near Hopyard Road its interchange with I-580.
The restaurant would be open from 6 a.m. to midnight six days a week and, like all Chick-fil-A operations, would be closed on Sundays.
Bending to Pleasanton planning staff’s requests, the Chick-fil-A here would feature a Craftsman style architecture without the sometimes garish colors the restaurant and its promotion signs feature in other locations.
In fact, Deborah Kerr, consulting project manager for the restaurant company, said she wants to include a “Welcome to Pleasanton” sign on the top half of the building, which would be visible from the freeway interchange.
If approved by the City Council, construction of the new Chick-fil-A would begin early next year.
“The restaurant would be open from 6 a.m. to midnight six days a week and, like all Chick-fil-A operations, would be closed on Sundays.”
Kind of surprised that Chick-fil-A would be planning on opening a restaurant in Pleasanton or anywhere else in the Bay Area after all of the recent controversy in the news. Not a big fan of Southern Baptists myself.
“The company’s culture is strongly influenced by its founder’s Southern Baptist beliefs. Unlike most fast food restaurants and retail chain stores, all Chick-fil-A restaurants are closed for business on Sunday. In 2012, COO Dan Cathy’s public statements in opposition to same-sex marriage became the subject of public controversy.”
( Wikipedia: Chick-fil-A: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chick-fil-A )
Terrific..
Great, can’t wait. I’ve been wondering why they don’t have any stores nearby. Great, good-quality food.
I think they only sell chicken sandwiches, not Southern Baptists. Not all chicken sandwiches are good; not all Southern Baptists are bad.
Damon is the new Cholo. Welcome back I look forward to skipping over your comments in the future.
So don’t eat there, Damon. There’s no government mandate requiring you to eat at Chik-Fil-A.
Let’s shut out all restaraunts and just build more houses. We can all go to Livermorefor dining. It will get approved. They will pay the City Council on the side like the Developers do.
damon, take your leftist ‘beliefs’ to another town where you don’t have to look away from those people who have morals and courage to defend their beliefs.
@Steven : “I think they only sell chicken sandwiches, not Southern Baptists.”
Well, as I said, I don’t care much for them so it doesn’t much matter to me whether they serve them or not. My brother likes them roasted over a hot fire, though.
Why don’t all you people who moved here after 1977 just move away.
There is no way I want a “Welcome to Pleasanton” sign on top of a Chik-Fil-A restaurant. What the heck. Not quite the image we should be striving for.
Noooo!
Not another fast food restaurant in that shopping area 🙁
I was just there yesterday, it is too crowded already! the parking lot is awkward and there are often lines to the in-n-out burger that make parking at pac ‘n save harder. There is a Taco Bell right across the street, a Black Bear restaurant right around the corner, how many restaurants do you need at that particular location?? It’ll just take revenue away from the ones that are already there. There are so many stores in that lot, a 5,399-square-foot restaurant with a double drive-through? Really?? Ugg more traffic to get to the Home Depot, a bigger pain to shop at BevMo & Pac’n’Sav… NOT looking forward to this!
Finally! Talked to the owner in Walnut Creek and heard Pleasanton was going to be the next location but thought it would be off Bernal. Kind of bummed it isn’t. That complex is already crowded with in-n-out but happy don’t have to drive to walnut creek or San jose now. My kids love Chik-fil-a! Oh and Bill – if all the people moved away who came after 1977 there would be no money in this city. Who do you think is paying all the high taxes supporting the city?? Certainly not anyone who is paying property tax on a 1977 home!
Instead of complaining on way or another about the food or the company or the parking or the traffic, vote with your dollars.
I am excited to welcome Chick-Fil-A. I do wish the location was not where it is already so crowded with crazy traffic.
On the Southern Baptist note, Damon you probably don’t know , I didn’t either, but when ever there is a disaster of any type and the Red Cross and National Guard show up, the Southern Baptists send a team that provides for them. ( The Red Cross, National Guard etc.) I had no idea that they provided so much disaster relief worldwide, my respect level went way up.
This will help gentrify Pleasanton by eliminating those that have been here before 1977. Just one chicken sandwich, nothing else and you have reached your daily allowance of sodium. Keep that life alert close at hand.
@Registered Joe: “Instead of complaining on way or another about the food or the company or the parking or the traffic, vote with your dollars.”
Doesn’t matter how the people commenting here “vote” with their dollars, does it? This proposed Chick-fil-A with its 5400 sq ft double drive-thru and gigantic “Welcome to Pleasanton” sign which will be “visible from the freeway interchange” clearly isn’t targeting the Pleasanton audience. The “votes” of Pleasantonians won’t much matter.
I’m glad that if there has to be another chicken place in Pleasanton, it’s aimed at the white Christian heterosexual fried-food lovers market. And thank goodness it’s not a Popeye’s.
But from a planning standpoint, this not smart. There’s already not enough carrying capacity on the streets to serve the cars that go there for InNOut and Taco Bell on their lunch breaks. This will only make things worsel
@Just Sayin’ : “On the Southern Baptist note, Damon you probably don’t know , I didn’t either, but when ever there is a disaster of any type and the Red Cross and National Guard show up, the Southern Baptists send a team that provides for them.”
Well, if so I commend them for that. But here’s a question for you: Have you ever actually lived in the South? Do you know what it is like to live in a community of Southern Baptists? You might feel differently if your interaction with Southern Baptists involved more than just reading a passing article about them in a newspaper. Just sayin’.
If you like your deep fried, Jesus loving chicken sandwich you can keep your deep fried, Jesus loving sandwich.
Isn’t that the beauty of Capitalism? Allowing a business to either survive or meet its own demise based solely on its merits and acceptance by the consuming public.
Personally, if they don’t offer a grilled alternative I’ll pass. Not because it’s a Jesus loving chicken sandwich rather a greasy fat fried chicken sandwich.
See, now I’ve incited the whole deep fried loving food religion aficionados and will undoubtedly be met with scorn, hate and a boycott. Oh well…
Outstanding!!!! There are three restaurants that I’ve been hoping for ever since I moved to Pleasanton almost 20 years ago:
1) Black Bear Diner: check!
2) Chick-fil-A: (coming soon) check!
3) Cracker Barrel: Two down, one to go! Come on, Cracker Barrel. We need grits in this town!!
We need more healthier fun restaurants like “Aqui”—been trying to get them to Pleasanton for years…great tasting, natural organic meals, kid-friendly, great libations too! Aqui–we are waiting for you!
@Julie: “There is no way I want a “Welcome to Pleasanton” sign on top of a Chik-Fil-A restaurant. What the heck. Not quite the image we should be striving for.”
First, a new Starbucks on Main Street and now a giant Chik-Fil-A with a massive “”Welcome to Pleasanton” sign. Goodbye Pleasanton. Say hello to “Chik-Fil-A-ville” or Starbuckia.
OK, if the left-wing loons are going to boycott and protest against business for their political beliefs, the rest of us should boycott businesses founded by or run by left-wing loons:
– Quit watching NBC, ABC, CBS, MSNBC, CNN, PBS, Comedy Channel, any channels run by Turner, Viacom and Disney
– Quit going to any of the Disney parks or hotels
– Quit using Comcast
– Quit reading the Mercury News, Contra Costa Times, Tri-Valley Times,SF Chronicle, and the New York Times
– Don’t buy any Microsoft products
– Don’t buy any Apple products
– Don’t use Google, Yahoo, or Facebook
– Don’t patronize any business in San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley because these a greater than 75% probability they are run by loons
– Don’t patronize any of the businesses owned by Warren Buffett
– Find out which businesses make campaign contributions to any of the Bay Area Congresspersons, Sen. Feinstein, Sen. Boxer, Moonbeam Brown, Gavin Newsom, any of the state-level office holders, and don’t support any of those businesses.
I am really excited about Chick-Fil-A coming to Pleasanton. Now if we could just get a Chipotle, Wendy’s, and Menchie’s, that would be super.
@Damon
I lived among Southern Baptists for many years and the majority of them are great folks.
It seems like you may be the one making generalizations.
Anyhow, love Chic-Fil-A, and Im pumped that it’s coming to Pleasanton.
Contrary to belief, it will not destroy the quaint little Pleasanton that we know..folks need to move their concerns to bigger things.
If you don’t like the location..don’t go…you don’t like that it’s not “healthy” enough..don’t eat there..plenty of other folks will.
@Sveez: “I lived among Southern Baptists for many years and the majority of them are great folks.”
Well, I’ve lived in the South, and my brother lived and worked in Louisiana for many years. He said that his initial impression was that the people there were very nice and friendly. As time went on, however, he learned that the people take their Southern Baptist religion very seriously. He and his wife were invited to attend the local Southern Baptist church for Sunday services, which they did once. However, they’re not serious church-goers, and when they didn’t always show up on Sundays certain neighbors started enquiring about what was the matter and why they weren’t there in church on Sunday like everyone else. It started to cause friction. My brother grew to resent living there. Glad you enjoyed living there, though. To each his own.
As for Chick-fil-A in Pleasanton, though, my main objection is that it’s a large drive-thru restaurant that is really more interested in catering to the crowd of traffic passing by on I-580 rather than being a part of the Pleasanton community.
Getting conservatives to eat more deep fried food will just help natural selection run its course.
Damon,
How long have you lived here? I have been here since 1980. The schools were great, we needed money for schools or sports we did pigskin roasts and had auctions, fundraisers. We had no traffic, pleasanton had an identy and you could tell Dublin from pleasanton from livermore and the people here got along and did not label folks based on where they came from and what religion they had. Then it seems people started coming here from other areas and we lost all of the above. Damon it’s my opinion that you should be more respectful of others.
I only eat out one day a week and that is Sundays. Guess I will never get to taste their greasy food.
Another chain…
I personally won’t eat there. It is built for commuters/travelers to have easy on/off freeway access to fast food. We cannot get an organic grocery store anywhere near the Foothill/Stoneridge mall area for residents who don’t want to have to drive across town or to Dublin for a loaf of bread. It does bring to question the reasoning behind some of the City’s decisions.
I have lived in Oklahoma City and Houston and yes, the city is mostly Southern Baptist. When I was asked to participate in thier church services, I declined and said I was happy with my own church. There was never a problem. We played bridge with them and BBQ’s and I found them very happy and cordial people. Our children played together. It isn’t the religion thing that should upset people. People’s morals are the most important, and I am happy that my children were raised in the South, then in liberal everything goes California. I am happy that chick-fil-A is coming here. I really think all business’s should be closed on Sundays, just to give EVERYONE a less stressed fill day.
@Paul: “How long have you lived here? I have been here since 1980. The schools were great, we needed money for schools or sports we did pigskin roasts and had auctions, fundraisers. We had no traffic, pleasanton had an identy and you could tell Dublin from pleasanton from livermore and the people here got along and did not label folks based on where they came from and what religion they had. Then it seems people started coming here from other areas and we lost all of the above.”
Not sure what your point is. Is your impassioned defense of old-time, small-town Pleasanton directed against me, or against a mega-corporation trying to set up a 5400 square-foot, double drive-thru, massive freeway restaurant with giant “Chick-fil-A” signs that will be “visible from the I-580/I-680 freeway interchange”?
Why didn’t they come sooner and take over the vacant TGI Fridays building on Santa Rita before it was demolished for another CVS? And who is going to infill the Rosewood CVS? Didn’t Chic filet used to have an outlet in Dublin that did not last? This is how shopping plazas die. We need more creative re-use of existing buildings instead of bigger=better mentality. The driving in that area will be so much worse than it is currently. Will we need a stoplight to replace the 4-way stop that is often ignored by those leaving the fast-food drive through side of the street?
We also need less negativity in replies that have gotten slightly off-topic.
Hey J. You might want to look at the demographics and income levels between Republican and Democrat to see which group eats the most greasy fried fast food.
We do not need another cheap fast food “restaurant.” Cheap food and housing bring in rough people (from Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Tracy) which then raises the crime rate. I am disgusted that Mayor Thorne “ok’d” this dirt building!!!
I love reading the above list of what businesses people would have to boycott to avoid the “left-wing loons”. So if we want to protest the crazy right-wing businesses we avoid Chick-Fil-A and Hobby Lobby? Um, two businesses I’m not even remotely interested in or need. Just seeing that list says quite a bit about what kind of political leanings that these innovative and technology professionals and leaders might have. hmmmm
WOW, I would love to see those demographics. Looking at health statistics and morbid obesity rates in the red states is a very good indication of those of what those statistics might be.
Waffle fries served with a scoop of biggoted hate. I’ll pass.
Seriously, Chick-Fil-A is supposed to have pretty good chicken. It’s a top-rated fast food restaurant according to Consumer Reports. As for the politics of their owners, I’m content with the fact that Chick-Fil-A has to comply with California labor and other laws. The biggest problem for me is the fact that the store is really targeting the I-580/I-680 crowd rather than Pleasantonians. So I would be happier if they built this big restaurant in Dublin rather than Pleasanton.
When did become an issue to have different values in this country.
At one point in time people said that was one of the things that made us a great nation.
Reading what many of you have posted I would think you want censorship of anyone who thinks different then you.
Just what we need – more processed junk to serve our children.
My initial reaction was great – more junk food and congestion. After reading all of the thoughtful posts on here…my thoughts are the exact same.
I don’t know how Pleasanton will benefit from this addition. Just like I don’t know how Pleasanton is benefiting from all the new apartments besides not being sued more by the state.
My views aren’t on one side of the aisle or the other. I’m just baffled and more than a little disappointed that the community I chose to live in is being masticated by suburban sprawl and spit out as just another cookie cutter area.
BTW: 1 regular chicken sandwich has 440 calories, 18 g fat and 1390 sodium, 55mg cholesterol, 41g carbs, 2 g fiber and 28 g protein.
Well we do have one thing in our favor. Eventually we run out of dirt to build on and the. We are built out and then I guess it keeps going eastward until the Bay Area connects with Sacramento.
Yess! !!! Great food, including salads, deserts and cross-cut fries. They also treat their employees well, which is refreshing.
For Damon, those were the CEO’s personal comments. The company does not discriminate, as was verified by “stings” tried against it. btw, they DO already have a store in the Bay Area. It opened during the protests — and had a line out the door. It is still very busy at all hours. (North First near 237).
They do have grilled options for everything. Free refills on sodas and the most consistently friendly staff of any fast-casual place From what I have read, they contribute to the communities they serve, too. (No I don’t work for them — I tried them at a Mall Food Court in New Jersey years ago and got hooked).
Damon: Thanks for being reasonable.
Pun warning, LOL:
Let’s hope and pray that Chick-fil-A’s success in Pleasanton (they will succeed – still very popular in Walnut Creek, and regardless of views, their sandwiches are solid and they even have milkshakes) will finally convince the state that 580-680 needs a second new connection – a Fremont Flyover, for all the San Joaquin Valley commuters who skip Chick-fil-A and head to their jobs or other destinations in the Silicon Valley instead of zooming through Pleasanton streets.
You know what I find amusing?
I am old enough to have lived through the “Free love-anti Governmnt-stick it to the man-don’t tell me how to live my life-flower power generation” of the 60’s and it seems that the folks who trumpeted that the loudest back then are the ones that are telling us how to live-eat-believe and worship now….what happened to you guys? Too many drugs? Did you notice that In and Out has bible verses on the cups, fry boats and wrappers? Are you boycotting them? The place looks pretty busy to me so either there are a whole lot of God fearing conservatives here in Pleasanton or some of you left wingers don’t practice what you preach. I Hope for the former, but expect the latter. Last I checked this was still America, or what’s left of it. If the city approves the site, there will be a restaurant there. Deal with it. If you don’t like it, don’t eat there. Why is it that the “Tolerant Left” is always the ones telling us what to do?
Since my office was relocated to San Ramon, I have very little reason to visit Pleasanton. A Chick-fil-A will make me stop in Pleasanton!
@gimme a break: “Did you notice that In and Out has bible verses on the cups, fry boats and wrappers? Are you boycotting them?”
If you don’t know why some people may have problems with Chick-Fil-A but not In-And-Out Burgers, you haven’t been reading the news.
the fact that a new business means more revenue for Pleasanton in taxes and fees, plus it means jobs for our youth (and others)?
It’s not a strip joint, or a bar, or a medical marijuana shop, or any number of other business types that are way more objectionable.
Damon,
Everyone has seen the news and this might surprise you but not everyone shares the same viewpoint on homosexuality. If the presidents viewpoint offends you run just don’t eat there.
@Paul
Well, not “everyone” has seen or read the news because “gimme” apparently sees no distinction between Chick-Fil-A and “In-And-Out Burger”, right? So, for the benefit of “gimme” and any others here who may be unfamiliar with the public controversy surrounding Chick-Fil-A, I’ll off the following from the Wikipedia entry on Chick-Fil-A:
……………….
In January 2011, the media reported that Chick-fil-A was co-sponsoring a marriage conference with the Pennsylvania Family Institute (PFI), an organization that has opposed same-sex marriage legislation.[32] Chick-fil-A clarified that “one of our independent Restaurant Operators in Pennsylvania was asked to provide sandwiches to two Art of Marriage video seminars.”[33] The WinShape Foundation, a charitable organization founded by Truett and his wife, also stated it would not allow same-sex couples to participate in its marriage retreats.[34][35]
Chick-fil-A has donated over $5 million, via WinShape, to anti-gay groups that oppose same-sex marriage. Of this, more than $3 million was donated primarily to Christian organizations whose agendas included positions that are anti-gay,[36] with the money donated between 2003 and 2009.[37] A total of $1.9 million was donated in 2010 to groups such as the Marriage & Family Foundation, Exodus International and the Family Research Council (FRC).[38] That year, the FRC, which received $1,000[37] was listed as an anti-gay[39] hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.[40][41][42] WinShape has also contributed to Christian groups including Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Exodus International, the latter noted for supporting ex-gay conversion therapy.[38] In response, students at several colleges and universities worked to ban or remove the company’s restaurants from their campuses.[43]
In June and July 2012, Chick-fil-A Chief operating officer Dan T. Cathy made several public statements supporting the traditional family, saying about same-sex marriage that those who “have the audacity to define what marriage is about” were “inviting God’s judgment on our nation”.[44] Several prominent politicians expressed disapproval.[45] Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, and Chicago Alderman Proco “Joe” Moreno said they hoped to block franchise expansion into their areas.[46][47] The proposed bans drew criticism from liberal pundits, legal experts, and the American Civil Liberties Union.[48] The Jim Henson Company, which had a Pajanimals kids’ meal toy licensing arrangement with Chick-fil-A, said it would cease its business relationship, and donate the payment to the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.[49] Chick-fil-A stopped distributing the toys, citing unrelated safety concerns that had arisen prior to the controversy.[50] Chick-fil-A released a statement on July 31, 2012 saying, “We are a restaurant company focused on food, service and hospitality; our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena.”[51]
(Wikipedia: Chick-Fil-A : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chick-fil-A )
………………………
The march of mediocrity continues.
Damon,
It doesn’t matter and lots of people don’t believe in gay marriage. So don’t eat there besides I would be a bit careful in quoting wilkipedia and also the southern poverty law group.
I will eat there and like the food and hope they are successful.
@Paul: “So don’t eat there besides I would be a bit careful in quoting wilkipedia and also the southern poverty law group.”
You would be a bit careful in quoting Wikipedia’s article on this subject because of what? Because, (1), the article is inaccurate? Or because, (2), the article is accurate but you don’t like what it says? Which is it? (1) or (2)? If your answer is (1), then please state the exact places where the above article is inaccurate.
While you’re at it, you might also explain why you think that statements from the Southern Poverty Law Center, an internationally known and respected civil rights group, are questionable.
They are just another crappy fast food emporium. If you care about fresh ingredients, human civil rights and/or animal welfare, Chipotle is a much superior choice.
Chick CEO’s retrograde, chest-thumping politics got him in hot water with their own board, and that’s a good thing. Segmenting your market in a way that particularly appeals to bigots and drives away neutrals is bad business. That said, they’ve done without my business for this long; we will continue to be ships passing in the night.
I hope they see fit to improve their food, their supplier requirements and their politics — and I hope they pay lots of tax money into the local fisc.
They have a good product. ‘Nuff said. I’ll eat there as often as I do at In and Out or Habit. Not often, but I will. They really need to introduce frozen custard to us.
Love their sandwiches!
Awful location.
Joey I agree with your list but I’ll add a Long John Silvers!
And ‘yuck’ you don’t HAVE to feed your kids processed junk, nobody is going to force you to buy anything there!!!
Since when did religion, Baptist or otherwise have anything to do with food!
Chick-Fil-A is a perfect example of a free economy at work. As you can read from the comments just here in this local-town blog, there is a wide variety of opinions about the company. Some like the food, some do not; some like the concept, some do not (E. Telthie above calls it a “crappy” fast food emporium); some have no problem with the company’s business model (not open Sundays), some do not; and some agree with the political and religious stance of the owners, while others do not.
The Chick-Fil-A company can choose to sell whatever and however it wants, within the constraints of other similar companies. Likewise, people in this country can choose to spend their dollars there or not. Voting with their dollars, as I like to say.
The company has done well, and continues to do well. It’s expanding. It has chosen its menu, locations, and operating conditions carefully. Say what you want about the Cathy family, the owners, but it’s a successful business serving customers happy to spend their money for their products.
In my book they’re not perfect. If it were my business, I’d be open on Sundays as that’s 1/7th of my potential revenue. And I would not have brought suit against the fellow from New England because of his “Eat More Kale” line of t-shirts. And I may not even go there to eat, once they’re open. But successful they are; (for the most part) it’s a free market and my hat is off to them.
Well, why don’t you all grow up!
What difference do you think your believes will change anyone else’s?
Live and let live and just enjoy the wonderful life you have in this wonderful city!
Do you think when you die your believes will be remembered by anyone?
Or have left a mark on the world?
I doubt you will be even a pimple in history!
Enough already with all negativity!