Chick-fil-A is set to serve its first customers in Osage Beach on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 6:30 a.m., opening the chain's debut Lake of the Ozarks restaurant at 3923 Osage Beach Parkway. The new location will bring dine-in, drive-thru, carry-out, delivery and mobile-ordering options to a stretch of road already lined with fast-food competitors.
According to KOMU 8, the restaurant plans a move-in party beginning at 6:30 a.m. Thursday to mark the opening. Per a Chick-fil-A news release, the company has selected Jim Hernandez as the local Owner-Operator, and the restaurant will operate Monday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Hernandez began his Chick-fil-A career in 2020 after a career change, as reported by ozarksfirst.com. In comments shared through the release, Hernandez said the Lake of the Ozarks has been a special place for his family for years, and he is glad to open the first Chick-fil-A in Osage Beach. He added that he looks forward to building lasting relationships and serving the community for years.
A Crowded Fast-Food Corridor Gains a New Player
The new restaurant will offer dine-in, drive-thru, carry-out, third-party delivery, Mobile pick-up and Mobile Thru service, according to the chain's announcement. Its arrival adds to an already dense fast-food lineup along Osage Beach Parkway, where McDonald's, Steak & Shake, Wendy's and Taco Bell all sit within less than two miles, the same report notes.
The opening comes after months of anticipation among lake-area residents following construction. The restaurant's progress drew heavy local interest, with coverage of the project reportedly drawing thousands of visits based on website and social-media engagement. Osage Beach's first Chick-fil-A has also been framed as another sign of steady growth at the Lake of the Ozarks.
Jobs and a Local Donation Mark the Launch
Chick-fil-A expects the Osage Beach restaurant to create approximately 70 jobs, the station's report notes. The company is also marking the opening with a $25,000 donation to The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri to support local hunger-relief efforts, according to the same account.
Cow Costumes Can Score a Free Meal
Chick-fil-A is reviving its signature cow-costume promotion for the opening. Customers who show up Thursday wearing cow spots or other cow-themed attire can redeem one free entrée or kids' meal, either inside the restaurant or through the drive-thru, per the company's announcement. The offer requires no purchase but is limited to one per person in cow attire per day, while supplies last.
