Chick-fil-A is set to open its doors in north-end Barrie next week.
The fast-food restaurant will open Thursday, March 9 at 447 Bayfield St., on the Georgian Mall property.
Lincoln Nikkel will be the independent franchised owner/operator of the location. He will lead a team of 85 to 100 part- and full-time staff.
Born in Langley, B.C., Nikkel previously supported more than 10 Chick-fil-A openings in the Greater Toronto Area and the United States. He is the first Canadian graduate from the program to be selected as an operator.
“Barrie is a community that truly supports one another,” Nikkel said in a news release. “I am so grateful for the warm welcome, and through our restaurant, I look forward to showing that same intentionality that is at the heart of everything we do. I look forward to contributing to a growing city, serving our neighbours well and creating a culture of care through mentorship and genuine hospitality.”
To mark the opening of the Barrie location, Chick-fil-A donated $25,000 (US) to Hockey Helps the Homeless, a non-profit that supports more than 45 homelessness agencies in Canada. Through the Barrie chapter, all net proceeds will go toward Redwood Park Communities and the Busby Centre.
“At Hockey Helps the Homeless, we believe everyone should have a safe place to call home and we’re always thrilled when there are opportunities to work with partners who share the same passion,” said Dave McCullough, committee chair of Hockey Helps the Homeless, Barrie chapter.
“Having heard Lincoln’s history with the sport and enthusiasm for giving back to the community, we are excited by the partnership," McCullough added. "We look forward to working with a fellow hockey lover to help ensure our community’s most vulnerable have a fighting chance.”
Nikkel’s restaurant will also take part in Chick-fil-A Shared Table, which sends surplus food from the restaurant to soup kitchens, shelters, food banks and other non-profits. In Barrie, the surplus food will be donated to the Busby Centre.
