EIU grad preparing to open Mattoon’s first Chick-Fil-A

MATTOON, Ill. (WCIA) — It’s good news for Mattoon as they get closer to opening day for one big name restaurant.

Pretty soon, Mattoon will have their very own Chick Fil-A. Not only is this the first one in Mattoon, but the owner is also an EIU graduate.

Chick-Fil-A owner and operator Patrick Ryan attended the university in 2003 and graduated in 2007. He said throughout his years in high school and college he worked in a quick service restaurant and loved every moment. Now, he gets a shot at running his own business for the first time in Central Illinois.

“And it really wasn’t until my wife was pregnant with our first child that we really got connected with Chick-Fil-A. We happen to be in the restaurant all the time, just as my wife was craving it and met the local owner there and we started talking. He kind of opened up his doors for me to learn the business,” Ryan said.

Ryan said he isn’t here to just sell chicken. He also wants to partner with the community in different ways. He’s already donated $25,000 to the Eastern Illinois Food Bank. Ryan also provided 100 community heroes with Chick-Fil-A for a year. The restaurant grand opening will be Oct. 24.

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