U.S. News
New Bill Aims To End Chick-fil-A’s Sunday Closures In New York
By CM Chaney · December 21, 2023
In brief…
- New York bill aims to force Chick-fil-A's to open Sundays at state rest stops
- Challenges company's long-time Sunday closure policy for religious reasons
- Argues it's an "inconvenience to travelers" needing service plazas
- Would impact Chick-fil-A's ability to win future state rest stop contracts
- Company did not yet comment on potential legal challenge
A new piece of legislation introduced in the New York State Assembly last week aims to force select Chick-fil-A locations to stay open 7 days a week, challenging the fast food chain’s long-held tradition of closing every Sunday.
The bill specifically applies to restaurants operating in rest stops along New York’s Thruway system.
It argues that vendors in taxpayer-funded service plazas have an obligation to “maximally benefit the public” by remaining open every day for the convenience of travelers.
While the legislation does not call out Chick-fil-A by name, it clearly takes aim at the company that has closed all its restaurants on Sundays ever since it first opened in 1946.
Chick-fil-A currently runs 7 locations in New York Thruway rest stops under state contracts.
The bill’s sponsor contends it is a “disservice” to have retail spaces sitting unused up to one day per week when people rely on them during trips.
If passed, the measure would impact all of Chick-fil-A’s future bids for state rest-stop contracts.
With over 3,000 restaurants nationally, Chick-fil-A did not immediately provide comment to media outlets over whether it might challenge the proposed Sunday opening mandate.
The legislation was introduced in the Democrat-controlled New York State Assembly.