A new Chick-fil-A restaurant has officially opened in the Pullman neighborhood, bringing the popular fast-food chain’s chicken sandwiches and salads to the Far South Side. This marks a significant development for the area, which has long faced challenges of job loss and economic disinvestment. The restaurant, which opened Thursday, is not only offering new dining options for locals but is also creating jobs and boosting the local economy.
Chick-fil-A Pullman franchise owner Elise Mills shared her excitement about the new store, stating that approximately 100 team members were hired to staff the location. She noted that 80% of the staff can either walk to work or take local public transportation, making it easier for community members to access employment.
The 5,100-square-foot Chick-fil-A is the anchor tenant at Pullman Gateway, a new commercial development located near 111th Street and the Bishop Ford Freeway. The site was previously home to an off-track betting parlor. Pullman Gateway is part of an 8-acre project, with Dunkin’ and Jimmy John’s also set to open soon.
The development of Pullman Gateway is the result of a partnership between the nonprofit organizations Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives (CNI) and the Hope Center Foundation, a philanthropic arm of Salem Baptist Church of Chicago.
The center is situated near Pullman Park, a 180-acre industrial site that provides thousands of jobs in manufacturing, distribution, and retail, with notable companies like Walmart, Method Soap, Gotham Greens, and Amazon.
New restaurant openings in the area, such as Potbelly Sandwich Shop, One Eleven Food Hall, Culver’s, and Lexington Betty’s Smokehouse, are part of a larger effort to revive the neighborhood’s economy. According to David Doig, president of CNI, the area needed more local dining options. “These folks need a place to grab breakfast or go to lunch,” he explained. He added that Chick-fil-A recognized the gap in the market, as there was little presence from the chain in the South Side of Chicago.
Pullman and nearby Roseland were once thriving retail and restaurant hubs, particularly along Michigan Avenue, but local businesses began to decline in the 1970s when the heavy industry that once sustained the community started to fade. The recent wave of new restaurants is seen as a key factor in revitalizing the area.
The Pullman Chick-fil-A is part of a larger expansion plan by the company, with 15 new restaurants expected to open across Chicagoland by 2027. This expansion is expected to create approximately 1,500 new jobs. Since its first location opened in Atlanta in 1967, Chick-fil-A has grown to over 3,200 restaurants nationwide.
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