Atlanta’s epic Chick-fil-A standoff
Atlanta, Georgia – Atlanta, the city that brought the world Coca-Cola, lemon pepper wings, and an astonishing number of streets named “Peachtree,” has done it again. This time with a poultry-powered punchline: two Chick-fil-As, standing just three blocks apart, clucking proudly at 689 Boulevard NE and 777 Ponce de Leon Ave NE; only a short 14 minute walk away from each other.
The Chicken Conundrum
If you’ve ever said, “There’s a Chick-fil-A on every corner,” congratulations—you just manifested Atlanta’s new hot spot of fried chicken awkwardness. The first Chick-fil-A on Boulevard/Ponce Ave has been serving up holy chicken sandwiches and blessed Polynesian sauce for years, its drive-thru wrapping around the building like city council members wrapping up a pothole debate.
But earlier this year—much to the confusion (and delight) of carb-starved locals—another gleaming Chick-fil-A popped up at 777 Ponce De Leon. Blink, and you’ll think you hallucinated a second drive-thru in your waffle fry coma.
Is This a Prank?
Just this past week, while I was waiting for my order at the Boulevard/Glenwood location, another customer entered the restaurant visibly upset and confrontational. He approached the server assisting me and demanded, “Excuse me, I ordered curbside and I’ve been sitting in my car waiting 10 minutes! The app said my order was ready a long time ago.”
The employee replied, “Curbside? We don’t have curbside service here. Which location did you order from?”
The customer insisted, “This location,” and showed the employee his app. After glancing at the app, the employee gave a slight smirk and said, “Wrong location. You need to go up the street.”
The customer then looked at me, appearing lost. I tried to help by saying, “It’s just three blocks up the street.” Clearly too embarrassed to admit his mistake, the customer made a joking comment about not knowing, and quickly left the restaurant.
Now imagine the confusion this would cause among bike couriers, and Uber drivers this may have caused as well.
Some would think it was a corporate error, but it’s just a case of Atlanta-level demand. Apparently, this city’s insatiable for chicken that’s crispy, friendly, and closed on Sundays. Both outposts run at warp speed, slinging nuggets, sweet tea, and “my pleasure” like an efficiency contest judged by grandma herself.
Cock Fighting
The Chick-fil-A located at 689 Boulevard opened in June 2023 and is managed by Jamerian Myles, who also oversees another location in the Glenwood Place development at 800 Glenwood Avenue in southeast Atlanta, a position he has held since 2016.
Previously a gas station, the 689 Boulevard site has a new building structure. The location now competes not only with another Chick-fil-A just three short blocks away but also with a host of chicken rivals in the immediate area, including Popeye’s, Wendy’s, Zaxby’s, Burger King, and McDonald’s. In an effort to stay competitive and engaged with the local community, the location recently hosted an evening of BINGO to offer locals a fun, interactive experience. Maintaining a strong connection to the neighborhood is crucial to its continued success.
The 689 Boulevard Chick-fil-A holds a 3.6-star rating on Google based on 508 reviews.
Meanwhile, the Chick-fil-A at 777 Ponce opened its doors in January of this year and is managed by Michael Duncan. Previous known for years as the popular sports bar, Dugans, this location also features a totally new structure. A striking two-story building, with the top floor dedicated to management offices, training rooms, and additional facilities. The unique architecture stands out along the Ponce corridor, catching the eyes of all who pass by.
With 66 reviews, 777 Ponce currently boasts a 4.2-star rating on Google.
Why Not Combine?
You might wonder, wouldn’t it be simpler to have one large Chick-fil-A instead of two? But that’s just not Atlanta’s style—why settle for one when “two of everything” seems to work perfectly here? In this rapidly redeveloping and increasingly popular neighborhood, with traffic as intense as ever, those three short blocks between locations can sometimes feel more like three miles.
The Last Word
For now, both Chick-fil-As keep dishing out their signature sauces, a dash of side eye, and plenty of Southern hospitality—proving that in Atlanta, the only thing better than a chicken sandwich is having another one just a few blocks away.
As for that age-old question, “Why did the chicken cross the road?” In Atlanta, the answer’s simple: to get to the other Chick-fil-A!
