Minnesota is getting a fresh wave of chicken sandwiches. Chick‑fil‑A is expanding its footprint in the state with five new locally owned restaurants, starting with a standalone Mankato location set to open this summer and continuing in phases through 2028, according to company officials.
Company Announcement and Rollout Timeline
In a July 8 press release, Chick‑fil‑A detailed plans for new restaurants in Mankato, Shakopee, Stillwater, Baxter and Woodbury. Each site will be run by a local independent owner‑operator, part of the chain’s standard model.
The company said the Minnesota expansion is expected to generate more than 500 jobs and will come with a $125,000 donation to local food banks tied to the openings. “Our expansion is about so much more than just opening restaurants,” Brent Townsend, Sr. Area Director, said in the statement, framing the buildout as a mix of job creation, philanthropy and local partnerships.
Locations, Permits and What Is on File
Property records place the Mankato restaurant site at 1870 Adams Street near River Hills Mall, according to LoopNet. In Stillwater, planning documents show a conditional‑use permit for a drive‑thru restaurant next to 2001 Washington Avenue, per the City of Stillwater.
In Shakopee, filings indicate Chick‑fil‑A has purchased the former Best Buy property at 8100 Old Carriage Court and is seeking approval for a plat and building permit for a roughly 5,200‑square‑foot restaurant, according to City of Shakopee planning documents.
Jobs, Local Ownership and What Comes Next
Chick‑fil‑A has said the five locations together will bring more than 500 jobs to Minnesota and that each new restaurant will roll out workforce training and community partnerships alongside the openings, according to Chick‑fil‑A. The company also confirmed it will tie a $125,000 donation to local food banks to the expansion.
Local coverage has filled in some of the on‑the‑ground details, including that roughly 300 of the anticipated new jobs are expected to land in the Twin Cities metro, while Mankato is set to get the market’s first freestanding Chick‑fil‑A this summer, Bring Me The News reported. The outlet also notes Chick‑fil‑A has grown to 27 Minnesota locations since first entering the state in 2005, and that final opening dates for the new restaurants will depend on municipal permitting, traffic reviews and construction timelines.
