The first Chick - fil - A opened in 1967, in the food court of the Greenbriar Mall, in a suburb of Atlanta. During the 1970s and early 1980s, the chain expanded by opening new franchises in suburban malls ' food courts. The first freestanding franchise was opened April 16, 1986, on North Druid Hills Road in Atlanta, Georgia, and the company began to focus more on this type of franchise than on the food court type. Although it has expanded outward from its original geographic base, most new restaurants are located in Southern suburban areas. In October 2015, the company opened a three - story 5,000 - square - foot restaurant in Manhattan that became the largest free - standing Chick - fil - A in the country at that time. As of 2016, the chain has approximately 1,950 locations. It also has 31 drive - through - only locations. Chick - fil - A also can be found at universities, hospitals, and airports through licensing agreements.
where did the first chick fil a originate from
the food court of the Greenbriar Mall, in a suburb of Atlanta