ASHLAND — More chicken is likely to be on the menu for Ashland residents and travelers along U.S. 250 and Interstate 71.
Just not on Sundays.
On Tuesday, city lawmakers unanimously approved a Community Reinvestment Area tax incentive application for Chick-fil-A. The deal includes a 10-year, 50-percent tax incentive.
Ashland Mayor Matt Miller said he considered the agreement as “needed” in order to solidify the major restaurant chain’s decision to open a franchise in the city.
Prior to the vote, Councilman Dennis Miller asked the mayor if he got the sense the chain was close to coming to the table.
“I think this will seal the deal,” Miller responded in regards to the tax incentive, which was approved moments later.
The Georgia-based company plans to construct a 4,472-square-foot restaurant next to Culver’s along U.S. 250 near I-71, Miller said. The building is expected to cost about $3,625,000 and create about 30 full-time jobs.
If all moves forward according to schedule, construction would begin in spring 2027 with an opening date estimated sometime during the third quarter of 2028.
“They (Chick-fil-A) feel that they need a tax incentive in order to make the restaurant viable financially here,” the mayor said. “We’re seeing Culver’s experience a great deal of success right now out on the (U.S.) 250 and (I-)71 interchange, so I have no doubt Chick-fil-A will be equally successful.”
Councilman Dan Lawson said even with a 50-percent reduction in taxes for the decade-long period, it will still create more tax revenue than what the city would gain from the land continuing to sit vacant.
“And 10 years go by very quickly,” Miller said. “With all of the economic activity we’re seeing out there, I don’t think we’re going to be out much in the long run.
“We’re expecting, next in line, for a new hotel to be built out there which would probably be an estimated 90 bedrooms. That will have bed tax and sales tax and all of the activity that they generate from their guests at our restaurants and stores.
“We’re not hurting ourselves too badly by getting a Chick-fil-A at our interchange,” he said.
Amid the excitement, the mayor reminded everyone in attendance that “nothing is official until it’s official,” but said he’s confident the project will move forward.
According to Google Maps, the closest Chick-fil-A to Ashland is a 32-minute drive (about 20 miles) to Wooster via U.S. 250.
Miller explains how tax incentive will work
Discussions regarding whether or not the city could offer any incentives to Chick-fil-A began about six months ago, the mayor estimated.
The terms of the CRA tax incentive agreement between the chain and Ashland are consistent with what the city has offered other local businesses, including those on Main Street, that have built over the past 10 years, Miller said.
“This isn’t out of line and it isn’t anything that’s more generous than what we’ve offered other investors for similar projects,” he said.
The tax incentive would begin in January 2029, the mayor said. The incentive applies to the building Chick-fil-A will be constructing, not the land.
“Starting Jan. 1, 2029, they would pay 50 percent of what would be their total tax bill on their property tax,” Miller said. “I don’t know what that will be worth in 2029. The county auditor will obviously decide what that property is worth with the new building.
“But whatever they assess it at, they’ll pay 50 percent for 10 years.”
If the restaurant chain were to close on the land this year, it would pay full taxes on the land until the building project is complete — at which time the incentive would begin, Miller said.
“The whole point of them (CRAs) is to be an incentive. If you come invest here, we’ll do this,” the mayor said. “In this instance, I truly believe this (CRA) is the incentive that is helping seal the deal.”
Chick-fil-A discussions date back to 2019
In June 2019, Brian Wellman, owner and operator of Chick-fil-A in Strongsville, contacted the city to say there was never a week that went by when someone from Ashland would tell him a franchise was needed in the city.
“When he was one of the first franchises to get the Chick-fil-A food trailer, he wanted Ashland to be one of the first stops,” Miller said. “If you recall back in 2019, we were just that.”
The traveling truck continued to make several appearances in Ashland, even participating in major city events like the Big Splash Pool Party.
Miller said at that time it just didn’t work out for Ashland to have its own franchise.
“But it didn’t mean that our people didn’t still want one,” the mayor said. “We are very fortunate that they didn’t give up on us.”
Fast forward to about a year to a year-and-a-half ago, a Chick-fil-A representative contacted the city to start a conversation about the potential of the business setting up shop in Ashland.
Miller said Ashland is considered a relatively small market compared to other locations considered by Chick-fil-A around the state and country.
“It takes a little bit more work to make it happen here,” he said.
