Traffic plan poised for huge turnout when Chick-fil-A Roseville opens next month – Macomb Daily

When Macomb County’s second Chick-fil-A restaurant opens in Roseville next month, a detailed plan has been developed to deal with the expected heavy traffic, the city’s police chief said Tuesday.

The new eatery is set to open Thursday, Oct. 3 in the Macomb Mall parking lot on Gratiot Avenue, near Masonic Boulevard. The announcement was made by local owner/operator Josh Holbrooks at a Roseville City Council meeting.

“We’re really excited to sell some chickens, to say the least,” Holbrooks told the council.

The Atlanta, Georgia-based deep-fried chicken restaurant chain known for its chicken sandwiches, waffle-topped potato fries and delicious milkshakes said each location is locally owned and operated, and that it is bringing 80 to 120 jobs to the region.

City officials say they have developed a plan to cope with the increased vehicle traffic expected at the company site.

When the county’s first Chick-fil-A opened in 2021 on Hall Road in Shelby Township, it faced massive traffic jams from customers looking to get their food delivered. But company officials said Shelby Township operators were in a unique position when the store opened because it happened at the height of the COVID crisis, when indoor dining was prohibited.

They believe that as more stores open in Macomb County, traffic congestion will decrease.

The police department has met with company officials multiple times to develop a plan that includes signage, traffic cones, pylons and manpower, according to Police Chief Mitch Berlin. The chief said there is no way to predict turnout, adding that officials will continue to evaluate the plan.

“We will have those resources available at the parking lot and on Gratiot Avenue to ensure that there is a continuous flow from the parking lot,” he said. “We will potentially close the first lane of Gratiot if we need to to keep things running smoothly.”

Berlin said that in the event of heavy traffic, all city resources would be available “immediately, instead of having to call and wait for the services to arrive, which would later cause a huge mess.”

“Cones, pylons and barricades mean fewer police officers need to direct traffic,” he added.

Chick-fil-A will be billed for any additional security costs, police said.

Council members said they would welcome the company to Roseville.

“I think it will be a popular spot with the crowds,” said Councilwoman Jan Haggerty.

Earlier this month, Chick-fil-A said it plans to open 25 to 30 new restaurants in Michigan by the end of 2028.

The new expansion will include restaurants in several regions, including Chesterfield Township, Roseville, Taylor and Fort Gratiot, Detroit, Auburn Hills, Lincoln Park, Orion Township, Clinton Township, Canton and Ann Arbor.

The Roseville restaurant is located at 32061 Gratiot St. Chick-fil-A Roseville will be open for dine-in, drive-thru and takeout from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday. It is closed on Sundays.

Originally published: September 25, 2024 at 9:03 AM