The Concord Design Review Board on Thursday will review plans for the proposed Chick-fil-A restaurant on Willow Pass Rd. near Franquette Ave. and Danzig Plaza.
The site is currently occupied by a vacant building, which was previously Lin’s Buffet.
The proposed restaurant would be 4,610-square-feet with 49 parking stalls and a double-stacked drive-thru lane with room for 19 vehicles.
Access to the restaurant would be from two driveway entrances along Danzig Plaza.
Chick-fil-A had earlier explored building a restaurant at 1225 Willow Pass Road (now the empty former Elephant Bar restaurant) and 1353 Willow Pass Road, which now hosts the new Gen Korean BBQ House.
And while those parcels were zoned for fast-food restaurants with a drive-thru, Concord city staff said they wouldn’t have supported those locations for a drive-thru, citing concerns about effects on traffic, circulation and economic development in this district with several high-rise office buildings.
The city has similar concerns with the Lin’s Buffet site, which was zoned for fast-food restaurants, but not with drive-thru windows. The city said they would be open to rezoning the property in order to accommodate Chick-fil-A.
Get er done
Just what we need, more garbage
Better address traffic mitigation. That’s a busy, crowded area and there will be lines.
BIG MISTAKE! Willow Pass already has terrible traffic issues.
I agree, build it. Anything is better than a empty building. No political statements it’s just a fast food restaurant with good chicken.
Build It !
If this is approved, please make sure the handicap parking is much better than what is in Walnut Creek. You park in handicap and can’t get out as people are in the drive thru lane, right behind handicap parking…poor planning on Walnut Creek’s part and surprised it passed with approval…..
To expensive and their food is not that great.
Their food is fantastic! The entire business model is outstanding! Exceptional quality, customer service, and cleanliness.
I agree, first class all the way.
Their fast food is not any more expensive than other places. If you are going to eat out, be prepared to pay for it.
Over the decades no business has operated more than a few years at that location.
I certainly hope our City Council will see reason and good taste and approve this application! I love Chick-fli-a and hate the Walnut Creek location. And to all of the haters out there, I don’t see long lines at Popeye’s or KFC in town. And this is better than yet another burger or taco joint.
I’m sure all the council cares about is the taxes that will be collected from the business. They won’t care about the traffic and any parking problems.
And how much tax do you think they will get?
This will be a big benefit for Concord.
Will bring in a lot of new sales tax revenue to the city. It is a regional draw.
Food is excellent and there just are not that many other fast food options for local workers and shoppers in that area.
I totally disagree. we have enough exhaust fumes revenue as is.
ON DA,
How about, building the Chick-fil-A without a drive-in? No more, or,.. well,……much less exhaust fumes. No more traffic congestion between, those who are looking for parking, and those who are waiting for food with their engines running. If the food is good, nothing’s going to stop me from getting my fix, drive-in or not.
it’s a very complex issue that’s why it grabs my attention. Currently that area has a set safe limit about 45 factoring acceleration issues. Safe issues.
Not everyone has the same driving or perception habits nor should they possess such skills.
Chic fillet is an excellent food outlet, but look as walnut creek and the unreal existing congestion issues now. That certainly would duplicate itself in an almost bottle neck that exists already.
We need some open space too!
This area is so impacted on a daily basis by traffic! There is NO ROOM on Danzig for the cars to go in and out, and will block all traffic trying to get to the county mental health clinics located at the end of that road! Cars will, literally, be backed into the parking lots with no additional exit to Willow Pass! Come hang out at 5pm every weekday when cars are lined up trying to turn out onto a main road to leave, and then tell us where you’re planning on fitting the hundreds of extra vehicles…
Build it…tired of waiting in line in WC.
Quality food sold by respectful employees.
Made the mistake of trying the local McDonald’s drive through. I do not understand how they allow their employees to be so rude & disrespectful…plus the food sucks and it’s way overpriced.
oh man, you have to warn me before posting things like that. Hilarious. You are so clever.
I’m sure you were joking, but you had me there for a second! I get your joke, it’s like you were making them sound like elected social justice warriors! So funny.
As someone who works in the county buildings in the next lot, I do not want this to happen.
Too bad! We all want it.
Chick-Fil-A’s drive-through should have a line for at least 20 cars and the line should not interfere with customers who want to park and dine-in.
That’s the problem with the Walnut Creek location – one driveway in and dine-in customers get stuck in the waiting line.
Who the hell owns this community anyways??? huh?
Build it! Concord needs the revenue and it’s a heck of a lot better than an abandoned building.
🐥
“1225 Willow Pass Road (now the empty former Elephant Bar restaurant)” – the last time I drove by there is was pretty much a pile of rubble.
This does not make sense as there is another location nearby in Walnut Creek just 10 minutes away.
The Walnut Creek location doesn’t work if you’re getting drive thru to bring home. Your order will be cold before you can get to Concord.
This is happening in the same basic area where In-and-Out burger wanted to put up a restaurant (primary location was 5400 Ygnacio Valley Rd, 2nd choice was off WIllow Pass). And the old zoning laws didn’t allow a drivethru.
The WC location is out of control traffic wise. The proposed location is a horrible idea.
I do like their food (it is over priced), but Willow Pass is a TERRIBLE location. I used to work in that area and the traffic during commute and at lunch time is sometimes gridlock especially around Christmas time. Enough room for 18 in the drive-through is not enough space.
Has the City Council ever been to the Walnut Creek location at dinner time? The traffic is why I won’t shop in Walnut Creek and if the traffic in Concord gets any worse I won’t shop here either. Why not put it in the mall without a drive-through? It would bring potential customers into the mall and generate revenue. The mall could really use a new attraction.
This will be fine, the issue with the WC location is having the gym sharing the same lot with only the one entrance into the lot. Just too many vehicles going in and out all day.
They should think of having the location on the large empty parking lot at Sun Valley Mall, on WIllow Pass Road or Contra Costa Blvd. It’s big enough for traffic to flow through.
Examine it. Perhaps just a 3yr. Leasehold. If it doesn’t work out.
Like I say, as is. Only. an elite number of people have the capable driving skills.
They need to accommodate long lines for drive thru so they dont block traffic like in and out and chick fila in Walnut Creek or have a special drive thru for basic ready to go items no special items