CLEVELAND — Cleveland’s first stand-alone Chick-fil-A® restaurant will open Wednesday, August 26 at 25 W. Underwood St., bringing 90 new jobs to the area, the chance for 100 adults to win free Chick-fil-A meals for a year and the opportunity for community members to donate books that will benefit the White County Public Library.
Operator/Owner Chris Liberatore’s new location in Cleveland is one of two North Georgia Chick-fil-A restaurants opening the same day – making it a family affair with Chris’ brother, Daniel, opening a stand-alone location in Blairsville at 152 Highway 515 E. Both brothers, who started at Chick-fil-A as team members in their teens, will employ their father who recently retired from teaching and will help at both locations.
Each location will award free Chick-fil-A for a year to the first 100 eligible adults in line when the doors open on Aug. 26. After nearly 12 years and more than $25 million in free food given away, Chick-fil-A’s “First 100” celebration continues to be the chain’s signature grand opening event, which transforms the restaurant parking lot into a 24-hour community friendly party as the crowd awaits the opening.
The Cleveland First 100 event will award more than $32,000 in free food. A digital offer card loaded with a one-year supply of free Chick-fil-A Meals (52 meals with each consisting of a Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich, medium Waffle Potato Fries™ and a medium drink) will be given to each of the first 100 eligible adults, ages 18 and older with identification, in line when the doors open at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 26. Both of the North Georgia community events are open to guests residing in specific zip codes surrounding the restaurants. A complete listing of eligible zip codes and rules can be found at Chick-fil-A First 100 Promotion.
To celebrate the opening, Chris Liberatore is collecting new children’s books during hours of operation from Wednesday, Aug. 26, through Friday, Aug. 28, to benefit the White County Public Library, whose mission is to provide quality information services to the community. The books collected during the grand opening celebration will be placed in a nearly three-foot Book House to serve as a free library exchange – allowing anyone to take a book after replacing it with one of their own. The Book House, created from old and thrown out wood, is one of several community programs and opportunities being made possible through the support of the Chick-fil-A Foundation.
The opening of Cleveland’s first stand-alone Chick-fil-A restaurant will feature the chain’s newest interior and kitchen design and can seat 114 in the dining room with an additional 26 seats outside. The restaurant includes dual drive-thru ordering lanes. The new restaurant features an upgraded, heritage interior that includes subway tile and metals in a variety of finishes and patinas, all complimented by an abundance of windows allowing in plenty of natural light. The vintage-inspired interior includes a community table made of reclaimed timber and other unique custom features such as light fixtures made from recycled Coca-Cola bottles and peach baskets.
Customers will be able to stay connected through the restaurant’s free Wi-Fi and parents will appreciate the indoor play area which includes an interactive section for toddlers. The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m. until 10 p.m., serving a full breakfast menu until 10:30 a.m. Like all Chick-fil-A restaurants, it will be closed on Sunday.
Liberatore’s Chick-fil-A career started when he worked as a team member at one of the chain’s restaurants in Athens while earning a marketing degree from the University of Georgia. Liberatore briefly worked in real estate, farming and at a barbeque restaurant before returning in 2006 to Chick-fil-A eventually leading him to work in corporate’s interim manager program. Selected as an Operator for the Chick-fil-A at Foothills Mall in Maryville, Tenn., in May 2011, Liberatore’s brother became an Operator five months later at a location in Myrtle Beach, S.C.. Both brothers are returning to Georgia to be nearer to family and will open their Chick-fil-A locations on the same day.
Ties that bind seems to be a dual Chick-fil-A theme for the Liberatore family as not only will the brothers now be operating stores in North Georgia together and have their parents working at their restaurants as well, but also Chick-fil-A was where Chris met his wife. Chris and Brittany, along with their two children, have been overwhelmed by the warm welcome they have already received from the Cleveland community.
“Personalized customer service and freshly prepared food have been the hallmarks of Chick-fil-A since the day founder Truett Cathy opened his first restaurant,” said Liberatore. “My team members and I are committed to those same ideas as we welcome our guests to our new Cleveland restaurant and provide them with a remarkable experience.”
The new Chick-fil-A at Cleveland is one of 93 new restaurants the chain plans to open across the country in 2015.
