Moo-ve over! A new eatery is coming to Clifton that will surely have residents eating more chicken.
Chick-fil-A is opening its newest restaurant, and the first in Clifton, at 198 E. McMillan St. on Oct. 22. The location will serve guests Monday-Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The new restaurant location marks a full-circle homecoming for owner-operator Kevin Lopez, who began his career teaching with Teach For America in Cincinnati in 2012, just blocks from the new restaurant. Chick-fil-A, Inc. selected Lopez to be the owner-operator.
"Cincinnati is where I first began to understand how deeply opportunity can shape a person's future," Lopez said in a press release. "During my time with Teach For America, I saw firsthand that education is an important
part of strengthening a community, but so are access to meaningful employment and basic needs like food. I’m grateful for the opportunity to build on that work by creating jobs, developing our team members and serving guests for years to come."
Lopez's journey to becoming a Chick-fil-A local owner-operator is rooted in a longtime passion for serving others. According to his LinkedIn bio, Lopez was previously a kindergarten and first-grade lead teacher at Impact Academy, a public charter elementary school in Cincinnati from 2012-2014.
He then worked at Procter & Gamble in a corporate sales role for four years before ultimately becoming a Chick-fil-A owner-operator in Philadelphia in 2023. Now, he and his wife are returning to Cincinnati, her hometown.
Ahead of opening day, Chick-fil-A, Inc. and several Cincinnati-area local operators recently volunteered with Our Daily Bread, a soup kitchen in Over-the-Rhine, serving nearly 600 meals to neighbors in need.
The restaurant chain made a $45,000 donation to support local hunger relief, with $25,000 going to Feeding America, benefiting Freestore Foodbank, as well as $10,000 donations to both Our Daily Bread and Last Mile Food Rescue.
When does Chick-fil-A open in Clifton?
The new Chick-fil-A location opens at 198 E. McMillan St. on Oct. 22 at 6:30 a.m.
To celebrate the grand opening, Chick-fil-A is giving a free entrée or kids' meal to guests dressed in cow attire Thursday. It doesn't matter if it's a full cow costume or a simple cow-spotted accessory; all ages are encouraged to join the fun.
How to navigate traffic at Clifton Chick-fil-A grand opening
If you're heading to Chick-fil-A's grand opening in Clifton, expect traffic and long lines. To manage traffic flow and ensure a smooth opening, the restaurant coordinated a plan for guests, including traffic flow and an entry point.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Chick-fil-A to open in Clifton, taps former Cincy teacher to operate location
