Five years ago, Micah Payton opened the first Chick-fil-A in Manteca.
That was during the COVID-19 pandemic, and any sort of celebration at the East Yosemite Avenue location were kept low key and at a distance.
On Wednesday, his much-anticipated second Chick-fil-A at the Manteca Crossing shopping center — 2187 W. Atherton Dr., Airport Way near the Highway 120 Bypass — was, by contrast, a joyous occasion.
Included were City of Manteca elected leaders and officials, the Manteca Chamber of Commerce, Ripon Chamber of Commerce, local first responders, the Sierra High JROTC/cheer squad/band, and Chick-fil-A team members equipped with confetti cannons at the special ribbon-cutting ceremony.
In the middle of it all was Payton, his wife Janae, and their three children.
“It’s a pleasure to have all of you here,” he said, thanking those in attendance. “None of this happens without you.”
Payton was joined once again by Lamar Turner, who is Chick-fil-A franchise owner in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. It was he who helped Micah Payton open his first Manteca restaurant.
Manteca Mayor Gary Singh praised the new building and the spacious drive-thru area, referencing the nightmarish traffic that hit early on at the first restaurant. He’s more than optimistic that won’t be the case this time around.
“We’re glad to have you in our community,” Singh said. “We’re getting our second Chick-fil-A ahead of most cities that only have one.”
The new Chick-fil-A officially opens today. The hours for dine-in, drive-thru, carry-out, and Mobile Thru are from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
Payton and his team, led by Jackie Camarena, will employ about 125 full- and part-time team members at this Manteca Crossing location.
“Since starting my journey with Chick-fil-A five years ago, the support and relationships built within the Manteca community have been truly invaluable.
“With the opening of Airport Way & Highway 120, I look forward to the opportunity of touch more lives, create professional job opportunities, and a space where team members feel supported and inspired to further invest in the community (that) I’m proud to call home,” said Payton in his press release.
He noted that any unsold food will go towards feeding those at HOPE Family Ministries while $25,000, in celebration of the Chick-fil-A opening, will be donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank.
In addition, the new restaurant will recognize the “100 local heroes” by providing free Chick-fil-A for a year to the Manteca Fire Department and the Manteca Police Department.
