Arden Arcade Chick-fil-A reopens with new drive-thru lane and updated interior. Look inside

After months of reconstruction and delays, Chick-fil-A has finally reopened the doors to its only location in Arden Arcade.

In a Tuesday interview from the fast-casual restaurant in Sacramento County, Joshua Paul, operator of the Arden Fair site at 2101 Alta Arden Expressway, said the remodel was done to strengthen the 17-year-old building’s efficiency and increase its capacity.

Chick-fil-A announced its reopening on Feb. 8 in an Instagram post to customers after months of construction updates.

“We are super excited to have our guests back,” he said while sipping carbonated water, a secret menu item, from a red and white Chick-fil-A branded styrofoam cup.

Inclement weather, issues with permits and “lots of little things” you can’t see until you roll up your sleeves and get to work delayed the site’s reopening, Paul said.

Paul has been with Chick-fil-A for 22 years, first as a fry cook in Texas and now as a franchisee. He acquired the Arden Fair site in 2012.

Now, 110 employees are keeping the newly-polished ship running — and half of them are new.

A look inside Chick-fil-A in Arden Arcade

The wired fencing, construction equipment and portable bathrooms have been removed to unveil the newly updated Chick-fil-A in Arden Arcade.

From the outside, it doesn’t look like much has changed besides the addition of a drive-thru lane. Inside, everything is new — from the flooring to the glistening tiled walls.

Chick-Fil-A corporate representatives declined an interview with The Bee. According to 2022 Sacramento County planning documents, the expansion was expected to include an additional 580 square feet of space and a second drive-thru lane.

New signage and parking lot improvements were also planned, the county wrote.

“Restaurants are prioritized for renovation based on capacity and age,” according to the fast food chain.

Freestanding locations generally undergo at least one large renovation within a 30-year lifespan. Updates typically include larger kitchens, additional drive-thru lanes, new counters, awnings and furniture.

Canopy with fans, heaters and misters were installed to keep employees comfortable during harsh weather conditions. Paul said before the remodel, employees used buckets of ice to keep cool during the summer months.

Back inside, the kitchen was expanded 15 to 20 feet to fit more equipment and allow employees to move quickly from one point of the kitchen to the other.

What’s on Chick-fil-A’s menu?

Chick-fil-A is known for its variety of chicken entrees including grilled and fried sandwiches and nuggets.

Also on the menu: breakfast burritos and biscuits, salads, macaroni and cheese, soups and wraps.

There are eight other freestanding Chick-fil-A locations across the Sacramento area, including restaurants in Delta Shores, Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova, Roseville, Folsom, Rocklin and Granite Bay.

This story was originally published February 20, 2024 at 1:41 PM.