Bangor’s new Chick-fil-A to open doors at 6:30 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 3

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After a well-attended pre-party on Nov. 2 in which 93 people were awarded their First 100 cards, Chick-fil-A is just hours from opening to the public. On Thursday, Nov. 3 Maine’s first Chick-fil-A franchise will open its doors at the newly constructed Stillwater Avenue location in Bangor at 6:30 a.m.

The new location, under construction for the past six months, will offer the same selection of breakfast and lunch items that has made the fried chicken sandwich chain a household name in the southern part of the U.S.

Over the past few years, the chain has seen a rapid expansion, with franchises now operating in 46 out of 50 states. The Stillwater Avenue site, owned and operated by Bangor resident Todd Schultz, is just the third location in northern New England (there are two in Nashua, New Hampshire).

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Schultz said 93 people showed up to wait outside Wednesday beginning at 5:30 a.m. for a chance to be part of opening day festivities. New Chick-fil-A franchises always have a big opening party, and Bangor was no exception: the folks that waited outside boarded buses and went on a service-oriented “road trip” around the Bangor area. Participants packed 10,000 meals to be distributed to the Hope House in Bangor, and then Chick-fil-A purchased 100 books from local bookstore The Briar Patch, to be donated to the Boy’s and Girl’s Club of Bangor. After all that, participants were awarded the cards, entitling them to 52 free Chick-fil-A meals for a full year.

“The response has been just great,” said Schultz, who spent 26 years in the military, achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel before completing his military career and being chosen as one of the 100 people out of 24,000 applicants yearly to open a franchise. “And we’re really hoping that this inspires some of these folks to start to give back to the community some more.”

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Chick-fil-A’s signature item is its chicken sandwich, which consists of fresh fried chicken, pickles and (optionally) Chick-fil-A sauce on a bun. There are also chicken strips and nuggets, chicken wraps, an array of breakfast items, waffle fries and handmade milkshakes.

Bangor’s Chick-fil-A is located at 605 Stillwater Ave.

Emily Burnham

About Emily Burnham

Emily Burnham is a Maine native, UMaine graduate, proud Bangorian and a writer for the Bangor Daily News, where she's worked since 2004. She reports on everything from local bands to local food to all the cool things going on in the Greater Bangor area. In her quest for stories, she's seen countless concerts and plays, been lobster fishing, interviewed celebrities, hung out with water buffalo and played in a ukulele orchestra. She's interested in everything that happens in Maine.