Niagara roundup: Chick-fil-A taking shape; Niagara Military Affairs Council to hold 'Family Day'

Article and Photo by Benjamin Joe

A popular new restaurant is set to open sometime within the next few months on Niagara Falls Boulevard, close to the I-190 in Niagara Falls.

Chick-fil-A is being constructed on the roadway, and City Administer Anthony Restaino said it will likely be completed by summer’s end.

“My understanding is that, as it looks right now, they’re looking to be open by the middle of September,” he said in an interview Monday.

Chick-fil-A Inc. responded with an update, confirming that construction is expected to be complete and the store opened by the end of the year. It referred to an earlier statement.

“We look forward to joining the community and serving our guests delicious food in an environment of genuine hospitality and care,” a March 11 statement noted.

Restaino said he is looking forward to the opening.

“Everybody is excited about it,” he explained. “Good to have another business out on the Boulevard, and one that has quite a following. I know that the mayor is quite pleased that they chose to come to Niagara Falls.”

The restaurant is estimated to create 80 to 120 new jobs, according to Chick-fil-A.

Its owners noted their excitement in becoming a part of the Niagara community.

The statement said, “The Chick-fil-A business is built to add positive impact to the communities we serve, and our local owner-operations do this by supporting the development of their team members, cultivating relationships with local organizations and businesses and tailoring philanthropic efforts to meet the local community’s needs.”

‘Family Day’ at airbase

The staff of the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station will celebrate the first “Family Day” on Saturday, Aug. 2, at the airbase.

The day of festivities, put on by Niagara Military Affairs Council – an advocacy group supporting the NFARS – was supported by the Town of Wheatfield, with a total of $500 reserved at a Town Board meeting in late-June.

“They were looking for supporters, municipalities and businesses to promote their ‘Family Day,” Supervisor Don MacSwan said in a phone interview. “They never had this before and asked if anyone would be interested. I went back to our Town Board and, of course, we donated.”

Mike Zimmerman, chair of NIMAC since June, said he wasn’t aware of any other municipality donating to the celebration, but noted employees of the base come from many parts of Western New York. This event is for them and their families.

“It’s a day for all the reservists and guardsmen to bring their families in and give them hot dogs and hamburgers, that kind of stuff, and thank them for all the work they’ve done here,” he said.

Zimmerman said he was grateful to the Town of Wheatfield Board for supporting the members of the 914 Air Refueling Wing and 107 Attack Wing by giving to this event.

“It’s very generous of them to donate the money to help support our troops. I’d like to say, ‘Thank you’ to them, and it’s much appreciated,” Zimmerman said.