Chick-fil-A plans first Boston outlet - in Copley Square

By adamg on Thu., 11/8/2018 - 3:47 pm

Biznow reports the chicken-on-a-bun chain has decided Tom Menino has not been mayor long enough and is looking to replace the Boloco at 569 Boylston St. in the Back Bay.

Chick-fil-A tried a couple of times to open in Boston in 2012, but was beaten back, first by Northeastern University, when it wanted to open in a school food court, then by then mayor Tom Menino, when it was looking to replace the Purple Shamrock near Faneuil Hall.

At issue in both cases was the homophobic political activism of the chain's founders.

Last year, Chick-fil-A opened an outlet just south of the Boston line, in a parking lot it shares with Ocean State Job Lot in Dedham.

Topics:

Neighborhoods:

Free tagging:

Like the job UHub is doing? Consider a contribution. Thanks!

Ad:

Comments

As always with Mahty

By mseskin
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 3:54pm

Boston is "open for business." He doesn't stand for anything but pro-business access politics.

RIP, mayor Menino.

menino

By hux
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 4:00pm

Menino was really not that much better. He just had to like you and you had to pay for access.

Because a policy of denying people

By roadman
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 5:07pm

the right to do business just because you don't agree with their politics is SO much better.

I don't happen to agree with Chic-Fil-A's politics, but I'm not going to begrudge them a license if there're able and willling to operate a restaurant in accordance with the rules and regulations set by the City for a food service license. And last I checked, who management chooses to donate their profits to was not a condition, nor should it be, of gettting that license.

This is not just politics.

By That-
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 5:19pm

I would agree if they just had a conservative view of how taxes should be. But they donate to various causes and "Family Research" foundations, some of which are insanely harmful to LGBT people. Foundations that stigmatize people for who they are, along with society still not accepting them fully. These kids kill themselves from the stigma these foundations put forward and teach people. This is not about how to deal with a state budget, this is some messed up kids life, not politics. If you donate to groups like this you are a not someone I would like to meet. They are fueling hate for no reason.

I don't happen to agree with

By Super Regular H...
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 5:38pm

I don't happen to agree with Chic-Fil-A's politics, but I'm not going to begrudge them a license

Well, that's mighty magnanimous of you, but plenty of people find their politics offensive. They think LGBTQIA+ people should be second or third class citizens. I absolutely begrudge them a license to do business here.

QIA+?

By Anon
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 11:23pm

WTF? BBQ?

LesbianGayBisexualTransexualQ

By anon
Fri, 11/09/2018 - 7:21am

Lesbian
Gay
Bisexual
Transexual
Queer
Intersex
Asexual
+ and others

I support rights for all

By Scauma
Fri, 11/09/2018 - 10:40am

But at some point it just gets ridiculous. Why does an asexual person need some special designation? And how could anyone discriminate against an asexual person? I feel like there are lots of people out there who just want to be apart of a minority group.

Freud

By Kaz
Fri, 11/09/2018 - 11:53am

Freud says you seem like the one who wants to be apart from minorities.

I'm black

By Scauma
Fri, 11/09/2018 - 12:17pm

Try again.

There's more to being a

By dd808
Fri, 11/09/2018 - 12:48pm

There's more to being a minority then just the color of your skin.

Are they DIRECTLY doing anything

By roadman
Fri, 11/09/2018 - 2:00pm

like denying customers service based on sexual orientation, that would justify denying them a license on the grounds of not following the rules and laws directly relating to operating a food service establishment?

Last I knew, what management chooses to do with their profits is not a legitimate criteria for determining whether or not to grant a business a license.

Don't agree with their politics? Then don't patronize them. If enough people do this, then they will go out of business.

Since when is the owner's politics anyone's business

By tedpk
Sat, 11/10/2018 - 4:23pm

You have the same vote that everyone else has -- as RR said -- you can "vote with your feet" or in this case you can vote with your $ -- don't buy chicken from them if you find them to be backing a personally unpleasant position.

However, the last time I checked no government entity should have the power to allow or disallow a legitimate business operating under the laws of the entity in question.

So if Chic-Fil-A follows all the zoning and health and safety laws of the Commonwealth and Boston -- they just like Walmart and any other legitimate business licensed in the Commonwealth should be able to set up shop in whatever city or town that they please.

Now I suppose you could make a case that Boston could pass a "Home Rule Petition" asking the Legislature to pass a law banning chicken sandwiches being sold in the city on all days except being permitted on Sunday. Such an action would have the effect of banning Chic-Fil-A without appearing to be a "Bill of Attainder"

What Boss Menino did was essentially to tell Chic-Fil-A that they could set up their business in Boston -- but it might be unfortunate if it happened to catch fire or something of that ilk -- thankfully he's gone

Don't know about Chick-Fil-A, but Wal*Mart wanted to open a

By mplo
Mon, 11/12/2018 - 9:58am

grocery store in what's now Assembly Row, but due to being unable to get the permits or whatever, because they were not welcome, they moved on. Wal*Mart has long had a reputation for treating their employees rather badly-they're poorly paid, with extremely long hours, plus their food isn't very good, either.

People (myself included) were only too happy not to have Wal*Mart move in there.

Agreed, it'd be one thing if

By surprisefries
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 6:35pm

Agreed, it'd be one thing if they refused service to people/groups they don't like, but this is a far cry from that.

Has anyone actually stopped shopping at Whole Foods?

Oh goodie!

By Fenway Crank
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 3:54pm

Picketing is my favorite form of exercise!

Yes!

By Hank Yeomans
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 3:58pm

Good because the one in Dedham is packed and far! Save your guilt, it doesnâ€™t work on me.

Can't wait

By anon
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 4:00pm

Great food and they treat and pay their employees well.

No, they don't

By anon
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 4:03pm

They have been sued multiple times and lost because they forced people to pray at work.

Citation Please

By polarbare
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 4:31pm

Citation Please

do your own research next time

By ay820
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 4:48pm

https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2007/0723/080.html

Google

By cybah
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 5:05pm

https://www.google.com/search?q=chick+fil+a+was+su...

Here ya go :-) Lots and lots of sources

I will say CFA does pay their employees way above minimum wage.... but thats about where it ends..

Judging from the first page of results

By Waquiot
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 5:10pm

That's two lawsuits.

And "settled on undisclosed terms"

By roadman
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 5:14pm

doesn't exactly bolster the argument that Chic-Fil-A is a den of evil and treachery either.

Forbes says...

By Lisfnord
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 5:28pm

"Chick-fil-A, the corporate parent, has been sued at least 12 times since 1988 on charges of employment discrimination, according to records in U.S. District Courts."
https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2007/0723/080.html#6...

Which leads to the question

By Waquiot
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 6:29pm

How many times has MacDonalds been sued? Or any other franchise chain. Denny's has faced several lawsuits charging racial discrimination of patrons, including Secret Service members.

All I can say is that the staff of the locations I've been to appear to enjoy their jobs, and they in turn treat the customers well.

12 times in 30 years?

By merlinmurph
Fri, 11/09/2018 - 8:38am

I bet that is fewer lawsuits than other companies of similar size.

It's funny you used Google

By polarbare
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 5:33pm

since we're talking about company misconduct:

https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/8/18075936/google...

Don't you believe in Women's rights not to be sexually harassed? #boycottGoggle

and?

By cybah
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 5:36pm

What's your point? We're not talking Google. We're talking about CFA

They pay their employees well

By anon
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 5:01pm

They pay their employees well? Citation please.

Here lazy - Up to $18hr.

By anon
Fri, 11/09/2018 - 1:53pm

Probably more than you make with that work ethic!

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-leadership/...

Cool

By Michael
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 4:15pm

Hope this serves a similar purpose to the bars at the Seaport District, by siphoning off the type of people who would go there from the rest of town

Explain.

By anon
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 4:36pm

Who are the type of people who go to the bars in the Seaport District? Why is it good they be separated from everyone else?

I mean, it's been a while since I was dragged there

By Michael
Fri, 11/09/2018 - 9:11am

But it seemed like all tech dudes and conventioneers, which, fine, they have to go somewhere, and I'm glad they congregate in one area I can avoid.

Wait...

By ChrisInEastie
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 4:23pm

That Boloco is closing?

Oh, and hard pass regardless.

Yup, no thanks. The south can

By Kinopio
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 5:51pm

Yup, no thanks. The south can keep their morbid obesity, homophobia and religious extremism.

And cars!

By Anon
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 11:25pm

You forgot cars!

Go for the long con

By anon
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 4:30pm

I always thought the best form of protest would be for lgbtq population to apply and fill as many positions at a new opening chick filet get it up and running and then walk out

I believe the Nashua, NH

By anon
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 5:03pm

I believe the Nashua, NH location donated to a charity helping gay youth after the homophobic locations were outed. No, I don't have a link because I don't want to google homophobic psychos on my laptop. Hope this location makes it clear they do not stand for bigotry.

I was so excited

By Waquiot
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 5:08pm

Until I read about Boloco.

I was just thinking that Boloco is probably on the way out, which is a shame since I love their food. I'll miss them.

Still, my love of Chick Fil-A is well known. Glad to see they are finally in Boston as opposed to around Boston.

Bolocco

By Bugs Bunny
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 5:17pm

They still have one up the road. Boylston & Charles.

Would hate to lose Bo(ston)lo(cal)co(mpany)

By CopleyScott17
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 7:02pm

There's another outlet close by, near Boylston and Mass...hope that one is OK!

Chick-Fil-A

By Scauma
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 5:17pm

Is easily the most overrated fast food joint. Thereâ€™s nothing special about them.

That's why there's constantly

By anon
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 5:56pm

That's why there's constantly a long drive-in line at the Dedham site. They've been a huge success.

There are long lines for every drive-thru

By Michael
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 8:34pm

Americans don't like walking 20 feet if they don't have to

A matter of taste buds?

By Belmont
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 6:07pm

I have never eaten there. However, I know several people who SWEAR that it is the *BEST* chicken sandwich *EVER*. I don't know about the Freedom Fries. Back in the old days it was KFC. Also, that chicken place (Fontaine's?) on the West Roxbury Parkway but IRRC, they didn't serve fried chicken.

Fontaine's

By Suldog
Thu, 11/08/2018 - 6:34pm

Fontaine's served magnificent fried chicken. As I recall, it was advertised as "Topsy's original recipe" or some such. Now I'm jonesing for some and there isn't any :-(

Suldog