Auburn Approves Land Sale for New Chick-fil-A

The fast-food chain plans to combine the lot with a nearby vacant property to build a new restaurant.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 8:06am

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The Auburn City Council has voted to sell a half-acre lot on Grant Avenue to Chick-fil-A for $20,000, clearing the way for the fast-food chain to move forward with plans to open a new location in the city. The company plans to combine the purchased lot with a nearby vacant medical property to build the new restaurant.

Why it matters

This move represents Chick-fil-A's continued expansion across upstate New York, with the potential for several new locations to open between 2026 and 2029. The arrival of a major national fast-food chain is significant for Auburn's economic development and could attract more businesses and customers to the area.

The details

Chick-fil-A has not yet filed final plans for the new restaurant, but the project fits into the company's broader expansion plans for upstate New York. The city's planning board will need to approve the project before construction can begin.

  • On March 21, 2026, the Auburn City Council voted to sell the half-acre lot to Chick-fil-A.
  • Chick-fil-A plans to open new locations in upstate New York between 2026 and 2029.

The players

Auburn City Council

The local government body that voted to sell the land to Chick-fil-A.

Chick-fil-A

A major American fast-food restaurant chain that is expanding its presence in upstate New York.

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What’s next

The next key step for the project is planning board approval, which Chick-fil-A will need to obtain before beginning construction on the new restaurant.

The takeaway

Chick-fil-A's move to open a new location in Auburn is a significant economic development for the city, as it represents the continued expansion of a major national brand in the upstate New York region.