Holy cow! Chick-fil-A makes a ‘moo’-ving debut in Ontario

ONTARIO — Cow print, chicken sandwiches and a crowd of eager customers marked the start of something new on Thursday morning.

Chick-fil-A officially opened its doors at 6:30 a.m. at 897 N. Lexington-Springmill Road, bringing another dining option and more than 130 jobs to the community.

Locally owned and operated by Drew Foster, the restaurant marks the next chapter in Chick-fil-A’s history with the Ontario community, where the company’s food truck has made appearances since 2019.

“My family and I were drawn to Richland County because of the pride people take in this community and the exciting investments being made in its future,” Foster said.

Mayor Josh Bradley said Ontario is grateful to have Chick-fil-A in the community.

“But I think we are very lucky to have such a community minded Owner/Operator like Drew steering that ship,” Bradley said. “I can tell you that the Fosters have already jumped in with both feet and donated to some great causes in our community.”

He noted the creation of more than 130 jobs is a significant investment to Ontario’s local workforce.

“Job creation is a vital part of economic development, it gives people the opportunity to earn an income, gain experience and we are excited to see those opportunities coming to Ontario,” he said.

A new addition to Ontario’s growing community

For some neighboring students from Lexington, the new restaurant offers another place to visit without traveling far.

Daphne Woodruff, Carliann Hughes, Morgan Harrod and Alexa Whitaker stopped by to celebrate the opening sporting cow printed attire.

All four girls shouted in unison, “We love Chick-fil-A!”

“We’re very happy,” Hughes said. “There’s not really much to do in Lexington, and we live pretty close, so it’s not that far of a drive, but yeah, I definitely love it.”

The other girls agreed, adding they enjoy seeing the area grow.

Hughes said excitement for the grand opening spread throughout their school, with students sporting their Chick-fil-A shirts and other gear. A few guys in her math class took their enthusiasm a step further, camping outside the restaurant overnight to become its first customers.

“They stayed here all night in tents,” she said. “They really took this seriously.”

The restaurant hosted a “Moove-In Party,” inviting guests of all ages to wear cow spots or bring a cow-spotted accessory in exchange for one free entrée or kids’ meal.

Guests could redeem the offer inside the restaurant or through the drive-thru. The promotion included designated breakfast, lunch and dinner menu options, with one free item per person in cow attire, while supplies lasted.

The restaurant offers dine-in, drive-thru, carry-out, third-party delivery and mobile pick-up. Its regular hours run Monday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

From a food truck to a full restaurant

Chick-fil-A submitted plans to the city in October 2025 for a location near North Lexington-Springmill Road and Village Mall Drive.

“It’s been impressive, from the process of selection to construction, the Chick-fil-A organization is very organized and thorough,” Bradley said.

“The food truck was sort of a trial run to see how Chick-fil-A would do in the area,” Ontario Zoning Inspector Benji Hall previously said.

He previously described the project as an exciting addition to a growing community.

Chick-fil-A’s opening comes as Ontario continues to attract new businesses and development. HomeGoods also opened its doors Thursday, giving local shoppers and residents another reason to stay close to home.

“I think it’s easy to see that businesses whether they are a national chain or locally owned have confidence that the City of Ontario has a strong commercial presence, and investments like this reinforce our city’s position as a destination for shopping, dining and business in Richland County,” Bradley said.

The restaurant sits on the former vacant lot next to Pet Supplies Plus. Preliminary plans called for a 4,375-square-foot building with indoor and outdoor seating, 45 parking spaces and a two-lane drive-thru.

Beyond creating jobs, Foster plans to invest in his employees and build relationships throughout the community. Chick-fil-A, Inc. also plans to donate $25,000 to Feeding America to support hunger-relief efforts through the Greater Cleveland Food Bank.

Foster will also participate in Chick-fil-A’s Shared Table program, which redirects surplus food to local nonprofits.

Richland Source contacted Chick-fil-A representatives for additional comments, but was unable to receive a response in time for publication.

(Photos from the Chick-fil-A in Ontario on opening day. Credit: Hannah Martin)