The thought of a second Chick-fil-A opening on South Florida Avenue has raised apprehension among some Lakeland residents.
Tampa-based Bohler Engineering held a neighborhood meeting Thursday night to meet with residents about a proposal to open a Chick-fil-A restaurant at 2301 S. Florida Ave, just north of Southgate Shopping Center.
“It’s a poor location. It has been for years and years and years,” said Chad Reid, a Lakeland resident of 30 years. “Now the road diet ends just before it and driving is crazy at that location.”
The roughly one-acre site was previously a Bank of America branch. It has been vacant for several years. Chick-fil-A seeks to use the site to build its new model restaurant. In almost a complete reversal from COVID-era policies, the franchised chain wants to build a sit-down restaurant without the drive thru that Chick-fil-A’s model is well known for.
Bohler Engineering staff representing a Chick-fil-A franchise owner declined to speak with the media any further about their new concept restaurant.
Residents asked Bohler Engineering and Chick-fil-A representatives if they would consider other locations that would not back up against residential homes.
To move forward, Bohler Engineering and Chick-a-Fil would need to request a change of zoning from Lakeland’s Planning and Zoning Board. The request would go through a hearing process before going to the City Commission for final approval.