A Proposed New York Bill Seeks To Require Some Chick-fil-A Restaurants To Open Seven Days A Week

A recently introduced legislation in the New York State Assembly seeks to compel certain Chick-fil-A outlets to function every day of the week.

The proposed legislation ensures that travelers and commuters relying on these rest-stop facilities have consistent access to food and beverage options throughout the week. If passed, the Rest Stop Restaurant Act could significantly impact the operational schedules of contracted establishments along the Thruway and at the Port Authority in New York and New Jersey.

“While there is nothing objectionable about a fast food restaurant closing on a particular day of the week, service areas dedicated to travelers is an inappropriate location for such a restaurant,” the bill reads. “Publicly owned service areas should use their space to maximally benefit the public. Allowing for retail space to go unused one-seventh of the week or more is a disservice and unnecessary inconvenience to travelers who rely on these service areas.”

The sole exemption from the requirement for seven-day-a-week operations stipulated in the new legislation pertains to “temporary concessions, such as farmers markets or local vendors.”

Since its establishment in 1946, Chick-fil-A has maintained a tradition of closing its locations every Sunday. With a nationwide presence of 3,000 outlets, the company currently manages seven restaurants under the ownership of New York’s Thruway Authority. The potential impact of the proposed legislation extends to all forthcoming contracts, signaling a shift in the operational practices of Chick-fil-A outlets associated with the Thruway Authority in New York.