Those devious cows that paint billboards to read “Eat mor chikin” for chicken sandwich chain Chick-fil-A Inc. may pop up locally now that its restaurants could be expanding in the Valley. The Atlanta company has applied to build a 3,200-square-foot restaurant and a two-lane drive-through at 6400 N. Fallbrook Ave. in West Hills. The site, which once held an Orchard Supply Hardware, will also feature a new Stein Mart discount clothing store. Approved with conditions by the city of Los Angeles in December, the eatery will have a clean design with a grass wall, metal canopy and the chain’s iconic outdoor patio. The company also won the right from the city to operate longer – from 5 a.m. to midnight – than has been allowed at the site previously. Currently, Chick-fil-A has only one operating restaurant in the Valley at 8875 Tampa Ave. in Northridge. It also has outlets in Thousand Oaks, Santa Clarita, Palmdale, Pasadena, Oxnard and Ventura. But with the West Hills restaurant preparing to open, the chain is widening its focus to a Woodland Hills location, according to public documents and the local homeowners’ group. Chick-fil-A has applied for a permit to demolish a vacant gas station at 20101 Ventura Blvd. to construct a nearly 4,700-square-foot restaurant. The site is beset with underground storage tanks that will need to be cleaned up first, said John Walker, executive vice president of the Woodland Hills Homeowners Organization Inc. Residents would be happy to be rid of the eyesore, which has sat vacant for years – provided it is replaced with the right project, he added. “We appreciate and support any responsible development,” Walker said. “Anything that’s an upgrade to community, we’re happy about.” However, residents are concerned with the restaurant’s location next to the Winnetka Avenue off ramp from the 101 freeway. Traffic could potentially back up onto the ramp behind cars turning into the drive-thru, Walker said. “We’re watching the traffic flow issue; ingress and egress will be issues,” Walker said. Plus, there could be safety problems should nearby high school students walk across the busy and wide Ventura Boulevard to the restaurant. Jackie Jags, senior public relations consultant for Chick-fil-A, said the chain “would very much like to have more restaurants in the San Fernando Valley,” but it does not confirm new locations until city approvals and permits are complete. Chick-fil-A has operated since 1946 and has 2,100 restaurants that, due to its founding father’s religious beliefs, close on Sunday, according to its website. – Carol Lawrence
