Chick-fil-A kicks off 2019 with record 10 new restaurants

CLERMONT, Fla. (Jan. 8, 2019) – Rocky DeStefano is celebrating nearly 25 years as a Chick-fil-A franchise restaurant owner by opening one of the chain’s first restaurants of the new year in Clermont on Jan. 9, bringing a new design that makes it easier for customers on the go to find handcrafted food and award-winning service they have come to expect.

DeStefano is inviting residents to join in the opening festivities at his new restaurant, one of 10 opening in the same week making it a chain record, at 3365 Hammock Ridge Road by participating in a community celebration on Jan. 8. The event, featuring Chick-fil-A’s First 100 Road Trip, embodies a nearly 16-year Chick-fil-A tradition of community engagement where almost $39 million in free Chick-fil-A meals has been awarded through yearend 2018.

First 100 Road Trip

The Jan. 8 Road Trip will provide an impactful experience on many levels for up to 100 adult participants, who will be transported on chartered buses for a daylong interactive and service field trip. The event fulfills DeStefano’s passion to continue making a difference in the Clermont community before he opens the doors of his second restaurant.

• Up to 100 adults will win a digital offer card with a year of free Chick-fil-A meals (52 meals with each consisting of a Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich, medium Waffle Potato Fries and a medium beverage).
• Registration begins Tuesday at the restaurant at 6 a.m. on Jan. 8 and will continue until 8:30 a.m. or when 100 people are registered, whichever comes first. The event will last through approximately 4 p.m. that day.
• The community event is open to guests living near the restaurant with a list of eligible zip codes and complete rules found at https://thechickenwire.chick-fil-a.com/News/Future-Openings.

About Operator Rocky DeStefano

Having moved from Cleveland to Naples, Fla. in high school, DeStefano became associated with Chick-fil-A at age 16 when he was hired as a Team Member at Coastland Center Mall. He used his Chick-fil-A Leadership Scholarship to attend Berry College in Rome, Ga. and graduated with a degree in psychology and political science. During that time, he worked at the Chick-fil-A at Riverbend Mall where he met his wife, Tricia, who would become a huge contributor to his now nearly 25-year success as an Operator in Florida. DeStefano went on to study law on a scholarship with a dual enrollment at the University of Miami and St. Thomas University. It was during his internships that DeStefano realized that although he loved law but not being an attorney. He turned his career thoughts to what he did enjoy -- working at Chick-fil-A.

He was accepted into the company’s interim manager program in 1992 and managed restaurants across the country. His dream was realized in 1994 when he was named franchise Operator of the new Altamonte Springs Drive-Thru restaurant, followed by a transfer in 1997 to operate the new Lake Buena Vista restaurant. In 2004, the DeStefano family made their last move to Clermont to open the city’s first location and to settle down to raise their three daughters. In fact, his oldest daughter, Ashley, who was married over the holidays, just graduated in hospitality and will be serving as his marketing director.

With three decades of Chick-fil-A experience and continued success over the years, DeStefano is enjoying the rare honor of being a multi-unit Operator. In addition to the Hammock Ridge and Clermont Chick-fil-A locations, DeStefano also has been the Operator Consultant to the Orlando International Airport licensee location since 2002. The DeStefano family have been a part of Clermont for nearly 15 years and look forward to expanding their service outreach in the community they love and call home. Those efforts were recognized in 2017 when he was named Citizen of the Year by the Southlake Chamber of Commerce who will be assisting with the 9 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 9 for his new restaurant.

“It is a dream come true to operate two locations in our thriving Clermont community which will enable us to better serve our guests,” said DeStefano. “I am committed to developing my Team Members as together we provide a remarkable experience to our guests who become part of our family.”

While still accepting applications at his new location to add to his combined team of 180 employees, DeStefano’s mentoring efforts around developing his Team Members has resulted in four of them becoming Operators and the awarding of $80,000 in scholarships. His longevity as an Operator in Clermont has been matched by six on his leadership team. They have been with him since his opening – resulting in nearly 90 years of combined experience. His focus around his team and making customers feel like family has led to the transplant of Mr. Lynn Lucuson, who regularly traveled from New York City to visit his grandchildren in the area and promised DeStefano that he would come to work for him when he retired. Six years ago, he fulfilled that goal and until recently, worked alongside his two grandsons at the restaurant before they moved onto full-time career pursuits. At the young age of 82,

Mr. Lynn, as he is known, quickly became a customer favorite. To the point, that DeStefano plans to schedule him at both restaurants so there is not a customer uprising from not being able to see Mr. Lynn.

Restaurant Details

DeStefano’s new nearly 5,000-square-foot restaurant has been designed to enhance all aspects of a guest’s experience, from the drive-thru to the counter to in-restaurant dining. Highlights include a:

• dining room that seats 115 with a vintage-inspired interior, including a large gathering table made from reclaimed wood, light fixtures from recycled Coca-Cola bottles and peach baskets, and an interactive two-story, indoor play area (confirm they have a play area).
• designated six mobile orders parking spaces, placing him as one of the top 30 in the chain for fulfilling mobile orders, along with a designated inside pickup counter for Chick-fil-A mobile orders.
• full-service menu with a variety of healthy and dietary options, including breakfast until 10:30 a.m. Open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., daily except Sundays.
• two-lane drive-thru that features climate-controlled canopies, first in Lakeland County, for face-to-face ordering, with lanes merging into a single pick-up point that can hold 30 cars at one time.

Team Member Opportunities

Just as DeStefano was impacted by receiving one of the company’s scholarships, thousands of Team Members are being impacted annually by Chick-fil-A’s Remarkable Futures education initiative. This year alone more than 5,700 Team Members including two awarded at DeStefano’s restaurant, were awarded with $14.65 million in scholarships, a $5.7 million increase from 2017. Team Members are awarded scholarships in the amount of $2,500 or $25,000 that can be applied for any area of study at any accredited institution. In addition, all of Chick-fil-A’s 120,000 Team Members have access to tuition discounts and other educational benefits at 100 colleges and universities nationwide.

About Chick-fil-A, Inc.

Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A, Inc. is a family owned and privately held restaurant company founded in 1967 by S. Truett Cathy. More information on Chick-fil-A is available at www.chick-fil-a.com. Additional information about the Chick-fil-A at Hammock Ridge & Highway 27 can be found at www.facebook.com/hammockridgehwy27.