New bill in Albany would make Chick-fil-A stay open on Sundays at NYS Thruway rest stop locations

ALBANY, N.Y. — A new bill introduced in Albany would require any food service location at New York State Thruway rest stops to stay open seven days a week, something that directly challenges Chick-fil-A's policy of closing on Sundays.

The restaurant chain is well known nationwide for closing on Sundays, a practice that's been in place since the first restaurant was opened in Georgia in 1946.

In the summer of 2021, a $450 million project began at rest stops along Interstate 90 in New York, updating the buildings, adding electric vehicle charging station and bringing in new restaurants. The construction work is ongoing to complete renovations at all 27 rest stops, but many locations featuring Chick-fil-A restaurants are already open.

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The bill would "require food services at transportation facilities and rest areas owned and operated by certain public authorities remain open seven days a week." The bill is co-sponsored by Assemblymember Anna Kelles (D, NY-125), who represents Tompkins County and portions of Cortland County, including the city of Cortland. The bill's sponsor is Assemblymember Tony Simone (D, NY-75) who represents part of Manhattan.

The bill's language says:

This legislation will ensure that all future contracts for food concessions at transportation facilities owned by the Thruway Authority, as well as the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, will be required to operate seven days a week, with an exclusion to temporary concessions such as farmers markets or local vendors.

While there is nothing objectionable about a fast food restaurant closing on a particular day of the week, service areas dedicated to travelers is an inappropriate location for such a restaurant. Publicly owned service areas should use their space to maximally benefit the public. Allowing for retail space to go unused one seventh of the week or more is a disservice and unnecessary inconvenience to travelers who rely on these service areas.

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The rest stops are operated by Applegreen, an Irish convenience store chain, which does provide other food and beverage options at rest stops aside from the contracted restaurant. Applegreen has a 33 year contract. If approved, this legislation would impact future contracts.

As of now, there are seven Chick-fil-A locations in operation on the Thruway with three more scheduled to be built. One rest stop with a Chick-fil-A already open is in Chittenango. People there told CNY Central they don't have a problem with the restaurant closing on Sundays.

“I think they’re taking away their right of choice,” said Daniel Locke, a truck driver for MXC. “This is a country of free enterprise. Just because they’re closed on Sundays, I don’t think they should ban them.”

“It’s perfectly fine,” added Mike Brandel, who drives trucks for Edmund Trucking. “There’s Burger King, Popeyes, [or] you can get off the highway.”

One customer at the service area added if Chick-fil-A’s were banned from service areas, she believes it would violate their constitutional rights.

“We have freedom of speech in religion,” said Adrien Lamora. “Just because they choose not to be open on Sundays, they are very open about that and I think everyone needs to respect that.”

Chick-fil-A's rest stop locations have faced controversy before. In July of 2021, several state lawmakers publicly voiced opposition to Chick-fil-A being chosen as a restaurant in the newly renovated rest stops, citing what the lawmakers called longstanding anti-LGBTQ+ history.

The New York State Thruway Authority said Chick-Fil-A's Sunday closure is factored into their tenant plan. Thruway spokesperson Jennifer Givner released a statement, saying in part, "When the project is complete, Chick-Fil-A will operate in less than half of the services areas on the Thruway — all of which have at least one other food concept and a convenience store open seven days a week."

CNY Central has reached out to Chick-fil-A for comment. This story will be updated.