Fort Walton Beach is buzzing with excitement as plans for a new Chick-fil-A location are underway. The popular fast-food chain is planning to open a restaurant at 122 Eglin Parkway NE, adding to the already award-winning Chick-fil-A on Beal Parkway in the area.
- The $5 million project includes a 5,000 sqft building, 65 parking spaces, bike racks, outdoor seating and a double drive-thru lane.
Positioned directly north of Buffalo’s Reef, across from Uptown Station, patrons will have access to the restaurant parking lot via both Eglin Parkway and Carson Drive. Chick-fil-A’s groundbreaking ceremony is set for May 8, 2023, and weather permitted, construction should be complete around September or October of the same year.
Franchise owner Matthew Sexton has grand plans for this second location, working tirelessly to maintain the same culture, vision, and purpose as the flagship Chick-fil-A on Beal Parkway.
That restaurant, celebrating its 20th anniversary, is a testament to the long-standing success of the fast-food chain in Fort Walton Beach. Sexton reminisces, “I don’t know where the time went…” when thinking back on the journey that began 32 years ago.
- He started with Chick-fil-A in Panama City before moving to the area and running the Santa Rosa Mall location. Now in his 25th year as an owner, Sexton says he has never been more fired up and passionate about what he gets to do every single day.
1 culture, 2 locations
The addition of this second restaurant has been a long time coming. The Beal Parkway location currently serves 5,000 people per day, and with the new Eglin Parkway location, they will be able to reach even more members of the Fort Walton Beach community, along with Okaloosa Island.
He emphasizes the importance of maintaining that personal touch and culture, stating, “Everything revolves around culture. When the culture is strong, everything seems to fall in place.”
For Sexton, the new restaurant means one culture, two locations. To hear him talk about the second location, you can tell it’s not just a one-liner.
- “It’s a promise. It’s a commitment. It’s a goal,” he said. “And believe me, opening up a 5,000 square foot restaurant has all of the painstaking tasks that you can imagine with getting it off the ground. However, what we love about having one franchise owner for multiple locations is that one culture, that one vision, that one purpose, and that one mission statement.”
With the expansion, the team will grow from 120 to upwards of 275 team members. Sexton has carefully built up a leadership structure with the goal of replicating the same successful team dynamics at both locations.
Sexton’s Beal Parkway location is the biggest Chick-fil-A in the region and ranks third in the state of Florida. However, he and his team are not just focused on the numbers. Sexton explains that each and every day they prioritize the trust and culture built within the community, creating an emotional connection with their customers.
He believes that the success of his Chick-fil-A franchise stems from this commitment, even in the early hours of the morning.
- “We have humans out there in the drive-thru beginning at 6:00am,” he explains. “There’s no speaker box.”
The new restaurant will feature a smaller footprint, focusing on mobile users that reflects Corporate’s plan for future brick-and-mortar locations for the next 8 to 10 years. It will also not include a playground, something that has become less and less prevalent since COVID.
With the groundbreaking ceremony next month, Sexton and his team are excited for what’s to come. When asked how he would split his time, he said, “I know me. I know we will get that new restaurant up and running, but I don’t want the community to feel like we didn’t replicate what we have here on Beal. So, if I’m working here in the morning, I’ll be over on Eglin in the afternoon.”
As the excitement builds around the new Chick-fil-A restaurant in Fort Walton Beach, one thing is certain: the strong culture, vision, and purpose that define the Beal Parkway location will be ingrained in the new Eglin Parkway establishment. Sexton says their word for the year is “bulletproof.”
- “We’re going to make this place bulletproof,” he said. “It’s all part of the vision and how we can impact that community, and create a deeper reach.”
“Look at God and look at how the residents of Fort Walton Beach have shown up for us,” he added. “I’m humbled to be able to serve this community.”
34 Responses
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations! Our community and our school appreciate all you do faithfully. God bless you and your family and crew.
Need one in Navarre.
Congratulations and thank you for the Christian atmosphere emphasized and for standing strong. We love CFA and are looking forward to the newest one.
Congratulations We love Chick-Fil-A
Sad there’s no playground.
Go to a park
Please build one in Navarre. We have to drive 30 minutes just for CFA.
Build chick fila in Navarre we have more people than fwb
no there’s more people in fort walton plus nobody cares about navarre
So happy there’s another Chick-fil-A in the area. We love it.
Hope they leave some of the trees located on the property.
Tree hugger
Congratulations to All so excited for the New Ground breaking! Chic Fil A is Amazing, thank you to all for your polite Service!
Too bad they treat their employers like trash
Totally fabricated statement. Matt Sexton is a wonderful human being dedicated to the Lord, his family and the public!
That’s the first derogatory statement I have ever heard against chick-fil-A. Don’t believe that!
Responding to the “anonymous “ comment spewing hateful lies about treatment of employees … This could not be further from the truth. Employees of FWB CFA are valued, loved, and treated like the person they are. Mr. Matthew respects and cares for every single worker of his.
Look at you…Hiding behind your “anonymous” name, of course – spewing your hateful venom. Perhaps the problem in your case wasn’t CFA;)
I pray you do well !
How many chicken places do we need in that half mile stretch of Eglin Parkway?
I travel all over the USA and this is hands down best ran Chick-fil-A. Owner does a really great job. Congratulations on new location.
Please have a professional design the parking lot! Those in ft walton and the one in Destin were not thought out at all.
Congrats! Reminds me of my first employer Ed(a McDs Franchise owner). We were the best of the best in the early 90’s in Texas. Good leadership transcends to every employee and customers definitely see the difference.
Mcdonald’s should follow your business model. It’s a S*** show every time I go to pick up an order from there for Is door dash.
We love to come to your location! It is the best run fast food restaurant we have ever gone to & your employees are wonderful! Thank you! But if possible, come to Navarre!! We need you!
This is the last thing we need. The mom and pop restaurants are gone, the parks are being bull dozed and yet Fort Walton Beach continues under the false pretenses of being a “family friendly” city.
Nah, last thing we need is another car wash.
Or tattoo shop…
Love you Matthew, and your exceptional employees. They make me smile everyday. God bless you and the family on this new adventure.
Congratulations Matthew on your new Restaurant I know you will do a great job.
We need one in Navarre please! I’m very excited about getting another one in FWB though! Such a blessing to so many people!
I’m very excited about the new location! You have amazing employees who serve with a smile & friendly attitude. God bless you & the staff as you move forward! Love Chick-fil-A!
I know that you would make people happy by building one both in Navarre like people have asked you kindly to do and even the Fort Walton Beach location and people would be down right happy to have Chick-fil-A in both locations
Coming back to FWB in mid October for vacation. Will the new CFA be open?