OCEAN TOWNSHIP - Chick-fil-A will open its new Route 35 restaurant on Thursday as a new shopping center under construction at the corner of Deal Road continues to take shape.
A sign has come up outside the restaurant ticking down the days. "Opening in 3 days," it said on Monday.
Chick-fil-A will open at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday. Its hours are 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. The chain is closed on Sundays.
At the new Ocean Commons shopping center, it joins Miller's Ale House, which has opened. Wawa is expected to open this summer and Turning Point, Qdoba Mexican Eats, LA Bikini, Great Clips, Strollo's Lighthouse and Sweat 440 are on the way too.
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Ramon Varona, a Chick-fil-A owner and operator in Monmouth County since September 2020, is the franchisee for the Ocean restaurant. Chick-fil-A has other locations in Hazlet, Eatontown, Howell, Freehold Township, Brick and Stafford as well as spots at Freehold Raceway Mall and Monmouth Mall.
"Throughout my time as an operator, I’ve learned that a good leader creates a culture of care for our guests and team members, and my goal is to bring those principles to Chick-fil-A Ocean Township,” Varona said in a statement. He has been with Chick-fil-A in various roles for more than 15 years.
“My goal is to create job opportunities for people to support their families, raise their children and achieve their aspirations — and empower the next generation of leaders,” Varona said.
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The new restaurant will have about 120 full- and part-time employees.
As part of the opening, Chick-fil-A Inc. will donate $25,000 to Feeding America in honor of the new restaurant. These funds will be distributed to partners in the greater New Jersey area to aid in the fight against hunger. Chick-fil-A Ocean Township is recognizing 100 local heroes making an impact in the area by providing them with free Chick-fil-A entrées for a year.
David P. Willis, an award-winning business writer, has covered business and consumer news at the Asbury Park Press for 25 years. He writes APP.com's What's Going There and Press on Your Side columns and can be reached at dwillis@gannettnj.com. Please sign up for his weekly newsletter and join his What's Going There page on Facebook for updates.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Chick fil-A opening at Ocean Commons in Ocean Township