'Surprising to all of us': Chick-fil-A nixes plans to open at former Motel 6 in Braintree

BRAINTREE – A new Chick-fil-A is no longer coming to the site of a former motel.

The mayor’s office announced in a news release Tuesday evening that the Atlanta-based fast-food chain “would not be exercising its right to occupy the site as was anticipated” at the former Motel 6 on Union Street.

“While this news is surprising to all of us, we recognize the immediate positives – that substantial improvements have already been made to the site and the eyesore that was Motel 6 is cleaned up,” Mayor Erin Joyce said in the news release.

The property owner, Torrington Properties, is in the process of seeking a new tenant. Chick-fil-A confirmed the decision in an email to The Patriot Ledger, saying the company is "no longer pursuing the Union Street location," but declined to provide further details.

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In December 2023, the town’s planning board approved the $20-million development of a 5,200-square-foot Chick-fil-A restaurant and a 2,500-square-foot Brookline Bank Branch, following a 10-month review.

The developer went before the town’s planning board in August for a minor modification to its original approval. The board signed off on a request to let the developer draw building permits before receiving its MassDOT certifications. If not, further construction of the site would be delayed until December.

The Motel 6 was built in 1973 with 92 rooms, and closed in 2017 after a Braintree police officer was shot while serving an arrest warrant there. The property sold in 2022 for $4.5 million and was demolished earlier this year .

(This story was updated to add new information.)

Hannah Morse covers growth and development for The Patriot Ledger. Contact her at hmorse@patriotledger.com .

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: 'Surprising to all of us': Chick-fil-A nixes plans to open at former Motel 6 in Braintree