Chick-fil-A is planting its flag at one of Detroit’s busiest crossroads, with a new restaurant rising at the corner of 8 Mile Road and Woodward Avenue. Construction crews are already on site, and the chain says the spot is expected to open later in 2026, depending on how smoothly permitting and building go. The location sits in a heavily trafficked retail and transit hub near a Meijer and the Jason Hargrove Transit Center, adding yet another national chain to the ever-evolving Woodward corridor as Chick-fil-A keeps stretching across metro Detroit.
Building permits obtained by the Detroit Free Press put the construction price tag at roughly $1.2 million. The permits describe a fast-food restaurant with a drive-through and outdoor dining area. Company representatives told reporters that construction is already under way and that the restaurant is slated to open later in 2026, as long as there are no unexpected delays.
Where on Woodward will it sit?
The future restaurant is planned for the intersection of 8 Mile Road and Woodward Avenue in the Gateway Marketplace area near a Meijer store, as outlined by Wikipedia. Just up the way, the Jason Hargrove Transit Center at the former State Fairgrounds serves as a regional DDOT hub, according to the City of Detroit, making the new restaurant a likely stopover for commuters grabbing food between buses.
Chick-fil-A's Michigan push
Chick-fil-A operates more than 3,000 restaurants nationwide, per Chick-fil-A. Michigan has added dozens of locations in recent years, and the company rolled out an expansion plan in September 2024 that included more than two dozen additional planned sites across the state, according to the Detroit Free Press. The 8 Mile and Woodward project is the latest piece of that broader build-out.
Jobs and neighborhood impact
New locations like this typically bring a hiring wave. Recent coverage of other nearby Michigan openings has put Chick-fil-A staffing in the neighborhood of 80 to 120 jobs per restaurant, according to Crain's Detroit Business. At the same time, any new drive-through along Woodward tends to draw close attention from planners and neighbors concerned about traffic backups and curb cuts, even as developers point to the jobs and community contributions that often accompany Chick-fil-A openings.
For now, construction is moving ahead, and company officials say they will lock in an official opening date once permits are finalized and the build-out wraps up. We will update this story when Chick-fil-A announces a firm opening day or if city records indicate a change in timing.
