Why Chick-fil-A Closes Every Sunday, Explained

(KMDL-FM) I have an acquaintance who worked at a convenience store next to Chick-fil-A in Lafayette when it was on Ambassador Caffery Parkway. Y'all remember how the traffic used to back up? Anyway, this friend told me that one Sunday between 11 am and 1 pm he counted 19 cars that pulled into the drive-thru of the closed restaurant.

If you were one of those 19 drivers or are painfully unaware, Chick-fil-A closes its entire chain on Sunday. It's been that way for the past 80 years. The company was founded in 1946, and its founders believed employees should have at least one day of rest each week.

Do Chick-fil-A Employees Prefer Being Closed on Sunday?

If you ask Chick-fil-A employees, they will tell you that having that guaranteed one day off is a big reason why they choose to work for the company. That, and the fact that they offer competitive wages and a friendly working environment. The brand is quite popular among customers such as you and me, too.

For decades, Chick-fil-A was the "gold standard" for what a fast food experience should be. It ranked at the top of the American Customer Satisfaction Index for about ten years. It was recently dethroned from the top spot by Jersey Mike's, but the Chick-fil-A franchise finished second.

Of course, the elephant in the chicken restaurant, or the elephant in the room about the chicken restaurant, is how much money the brand leaves on the table by closing on Sundays. You know Chick-fil-A has a location inside Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, right? And yes, they are closed on Sundays when the Falcons play.

With So Much Revenue on the Line, Will Chick-fil-A Change Its Sunday Policy?

Chick-fil-A CEO Andrew Cathy told NBC's "Today" that he hasn't even contemplated how much money the company leaves on the table by not being open for NFL games on Sundays. Cathy explained that the investment in the team members and their time off was more valuable than any money that might be generated.

a fast food restaurant with a large menu — Photo by Zoshua Colah on Unsplash

Business Insider calculated the decision to be closed on Sunday costs the brand some $1.1 to $1.2 billion annually. However, company officials don't count this as "missed profits". They say you can't count what you've never had, and they have never been open on Sunday.

And as you might have guessed, the 80-year-old "closed on Sundays" policy is not going anywhere anytime soon. And that policy applies to all Chick-fil-A franchises. Even the ones located in Singapore, the UK, Puerto Rico, Canada, and, of course, the United States.

Acadiana’s Favorite Chicken Tenders Come From These Local Spots

Food is serious business in Acadiana. Not just our world famous Cajun and Creole cuisine, but even down to comfort food staples like BBQ, hamburgers, pizza, and fried chicken. Sure, you can find these foods anywhere in America, but here in Acadiana we serve them up with our own special Louisiana twist.

From Erath to New Iberia, Lafayette to Breaux Bridge, and everywhere in between, you'll find locally owned mom and pop gas stations and restaurants serving up mouth watering chicken tenders. We wanted to know what local spots have the absolute best chicken tenders, and you did not disappoint.

After sifting through roughly 100 responses on Facebook, there were a handful of Acadiana restaurants and gas stations that were repeatedly mentioned over and over again.

Gallery Credit: Michael Dot Scott

Source: Changes Coming? Chick-Fil-A CEO Reveals Insight on ‘Sunday Policy’

Filed Under: chick-fil-a