When will the Middletown Chick-fil-A reopen and what renovations are being done?

It wasn’t an April Fool’s joke when the Middletown Chick-fil-A announced a temporary closure on its Facebook page starting April 1.

Customers expressed sadness in their Facebook comments.

“We are going to miss you all,” Carol Austin-Hutchison said.

Melissa Carnell posted: “We miss you already and it has been 1 day” —with three crying emojis.

Other customers were pleased to hear about the renovation plans.

The restaurant’s Facebook post promised a revamped drive-through with an exclusive lane for mobile app orders and “improved facilities" at 701 S. Ridge Ave., near Middletown-Warwick Road.

“Yes! I have been waiting for a mobile only lane,” Anne Marie posted.

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Calls to the restaurant were answered by a recorded message stating the closure would take approximately six weeks.

As time passed, customers started to get restless.

“PLEASE let us know when you will reopen,” said Bill Master on the restaurant’s Facebook page. He wasn’t alone.

Subsequent Facebook posts by the restaurant have announced times for job interviews, but without word on a reopening date.

Then, on Friday morning, the big announcement was made.

Bill Combs, Chick-fil-A Middletown operations director, told Delaware Online/The News Journal that the restaurant is tentatively scheduled to reopen Tuesday, May 21.

Any change to that plan will be posted on the restaurant’s Facebook page.

What renovations are being made?

Combs said the changes were mainly to the drive-thru area including a larger canopy over the pickup area, more space and equipment inside and a drive-thru door to replace the former window for easier access for the restaurant’s team members.

However, the biggest change is adding a third drive-thru lane exclusively for customers who order ahead on the mobile app. These customers will be able to drive up, scan a QR code and proceed to the pickup area.

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Inside the restaurant, some changes have been made to the décor, including “a large Coke bottle chandelier over the farmhouse table and a beautiful knotted pine accent wall,” Combs said.

But families with young children will be glad to hear that the play area remains.

Reporter Ben Mace covers real estate, development and business stories. Reach him at rmace@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: When will the Middletown Chick-fil-A reopen and what renovations are being done?