Chick-fil-A Expands Upstate New York Presence with New Johnson City Location

The fast-food chain plans to open six more restaurants across the state, including one in Johnson City's Oakdale Commons.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 9:04am

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Chick-fil-A is actively growing its footprint in Upstate New York, with plans to open six new restaurants in the state, including one in Johnson City's Oakdale Commons. The Johnson City location is expected to open sometime before 2027, following the demolition of a former KeyBank property and site preparation by Spark JC. Chick-fil-A currently has 12 restaurants across Upstate New York and plans to grow that number to 18 by 2029, with additional locations planned for the Finger Lakes and Capital Region.

Why it matters

Chick-fil-A's expansion into the Southern Tier, Finger Lakes, and Capital Region of New York reflects the company's continued growth strategy and its focus on establishing a presence in close-knit communities across the state. The new restaurants will provide job opportunities and dining options for local residents.

The details

The new Chick-fil-A in Johnson City will be located at the Oakdale Commons, which was previously a KeyBank property that was demolished in late 2025. The site was then turned over to Chick-fil-A for construction following site grading and preparation by Spark JC. The company expects the Johnson City location to open sometime before 2027.

  • Chick-fil-A currently has 12 restaurants across Upstate New York since opening the first one in 2018.
  • The number of Chick-fil-A restaurants in Upstate New York will grow to 18 by 2029.
  • The second Upstate New York Chick-fil-A will open within the Town Square Mall in Vestal, located at the former Storming Crab property.
  • The Finger Lakes restaurants in Penfield and Victor outside Rochester are slated to open in 2026.
  • The Chick-fil-A restaurants planned for Latham and Albany in the Capital Region are expected to open between 2026 and 2029.

The players

Chick-fil-A

A fast-food restaurant chain known for its chicken sandwiches and other menu items.

Spark JC

The company responsible for the site grading and preparation of the former KeyBank property in Johnson City for the new Chick-fil-A location.

Dustin Griffiths

The Director of Chick-fil-A Real Estate, who commented on the company's growth strategy in New York's close-knit communities.

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What they’re saying

“'New York's close-knit communities and long-standing traditions make this region especially meaningful for Chick-fil-A's growth. With new restaurants planned for Finger Lakes and the Capital Region, along with our first location in New York's Southern Tier, each restaurant will be locally owned and operated.'”

— Dustin Griffiths, Director of Chick-fil-A Real Estate

What’s next

The new Chick-fil-A restaurant in Johnson City's Oakdale Commons is expected to open sometime before 2027, following the completion of construction on the site.

The takeaway

Chick-fil-A's expansion into Upstate New York, including the Southern Tier, Finger Lakes, and Capital Region, demonstrates the company's commitment to growing its presence in close-knit communities across the state and providing new dining options and job opportunities for local residents.