Chick-fil-A is officially open in Muhlenberg Township. The restaurant opened Thursday morning following the brands unique “First 100” event where fans campout in front of the store for a chance to win free Chick-fil-A for a year.
Local Operator Jonathan Stone’s Chick-fil-A journey began in 2008, working full-time as a microbiology lab technician. In need of addition work to pay for an engagement ring and honeymoon, he was hired at the Chick-fil-A at River Ridge Mall in Lynchburg, Va.
Stone was drawn to the brand’s culture of hospitality, care for guests and Team Members and corporate purpose, so following his marriage to wife, Carmen, he decided to work full-time at the restaurant to begin the process of becoming an Operator.
In early 2014, Stone was selected for Chick-fil-A’s Interim Manager Program and spent the next year and a half working all over the country in the chain’s company-owned restaurants.
In August 2015, Stone was selected as the Operator of the Chick-fil-A at Berkshire Mall, quickly finding success with his team who helped him earn one of the chain’s highest honors for Operators, the Symbol of Success Award, in the first year of being an Operator.
He was able to achieve that honor again at Berkshire Mall in 2019 adding Champions Club Award, an additional high honor from the chain.
Since moving to the area in 2015, Stone has been active in Berks County and continues to serve on the advisory boards for the Reading Muhlenberg Career and Technology Center Culinary Program and Penn State Berks Hospitality Management Program. Additionally, he will continue to serve as Operator consultant to the licensee Chick-fil-A location at Misericordia University in Dallas.
Stone has truly made his location a family business with his wife, sister, father and 40 of his Team Members from the Berkshire Mall restaurant working with him at his new location to carry on their reputation for excellence in serving and caring for their guests.
“I am excited to have an opportunity to inspire, motivate and serve the Temple community both inside and outside my restaurant,” said Stone. “I am committed to continue developing my current and new Team Members as together we serve craveable food and a remarkable experience to our guests in a fast, friendly environment.”
Stone’s nearly 5,000-square-foot restaurant has been designed to enhance all aspects of a guest’s experience from the drive-thru to the counter to in-restaurant dining. Highlights include a: dual-lane drive-thru merging into a single pick-up point that can handle upwards of 200 cars an hour. The location also has environment-controlled canopies to further enhance the ordering experience, along with parking for the Chick-fil-A app mobile orders.
Heritage restaurant design that showcases a vintage-inspired interior with floor-to-ceiling windows and drop pendant lighting. 95-seat dining room with a two-story indoor playground and free Wi-Fi, along with a 16-seat outdoor patio.
Full-service menu with a variety of healthy and dietary options and breakfast until 10:30 a.m., and will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Chick-fil-A locations are closed on Sunday.
The 5th Street Hwy Chick-fil-A becomes the chain’s 2,526 restaurant.
