Macon Chick-fil-A closed for remodeling is ahead of schedule to reopen. What we know

Here’s some good news for chicken sandwich lovers: a Macon Chick-fil-A currently closed for remodeling is likely to open around Thanksgiving.

The restaurant on Zebulon Road, opened in October 1998, closed in May for a complete scrape and rebuild.

Following the closure, a post was made on the restaurant Facebook page stating it would reopen in December. However, restaurant operator Craig Craddock said he hopes to have the restaurant open sooner.

“We have had extremely good weather, allowing them to be ahead of schedule,” he said. “We hope to open prior to Thanksgiving.”

The new restaurant will be a prefabricated building being built in Conyers. It will be delivered on Sept. 4 and be installed within three days. The building will come in sections with brick and windows - speeding up the process for opening, according to Craddock.

In December, Craddock spent $750,000 on 0.75 acres once owned by Bibb County School District in December.

The purchase allowed Craddock to expand the parking lot and add double drive-thru lanes in addition to remodeling the building. He explained the Zebulon location had a small area which caused frustration for guests.

“Frequently we had a line of cars out on the road due to demand and the limitations of our lot size,” he said.

Craddock said additional improvements include more space with a new kitchen design with windows and an employee break room and bathroom. He said the remodel will provide more efficiency leading to a better guest experience and better work environment for team members.

When the Zebulon Road restaurant opens, Craddock said he will close the Eisenhower Parkway location for a remodel. He said the remodel at the Eisenhower location, which opened in August 2008, will not be a scrape and rebuild.

Craddock said he has been able to move employees to other Chick-fil-A locations in Macon while remodels are taking place.

Forsyth will soon be getting its first Chick-fil-A . The restaurant is expected to open this month.