Chick-fil-A's new Lewis Center drive-thru marks 14th central Ohio location

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Chick-fil-A opened a 14th central Ohio location this week as two more are on the way.

The fast food chain launched a new eatery at 47 Meadow Park Ave. on Thursday, marking the brand's first restaurant in Lewis Center. The new location is owned by franchisee Ali Holzaepfel, who worked as a Chick-fil-A staff accountant before she was selected to operate the chain's restaurant in her hometown of Peoria, Illinois.

"From mentoring our team members to offering our signature hospitality to guests, we can create a welcoming space where everyone can come together to eat delicious food and enjoy each other's company," said Holzaepfel. "At my new restaurant, I look forward to creating experiences that are remarkable for our team members, guests and the community."

In celebration of the opening, Chick-fil-A said it donated $25,000 to Feeding America in honor of the new restaurant. These funds will be distributed to partners in central Ohio to aid in the fight against hunger.  

Chick-fil-A built the location on a previously vacant site, taking up part of the parking lot north of the Powell Center shopping area. The center, which includes a Marshalls and was previously anchored by a Giant Eagle that closed in 2021, is currently being redeveloped after being purchased last year by a New York-based company.

Now, Holzaepfel's restaurant is open for dine-in, drive-thru, carry-out and "Mobile Thru," a fully dedicated lane in the drive-thru where guests can pick up orders placed ahead of time on the Chick-fil-A app. The restaurant's dining room is open 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with the drive-thru open until 10 p.m.

The new Lewis Center location comes as the chain's restaurant at 8787 Sancus Boulevard permanently closed in November after more than 20 years in business. The Sancus Boulevard location opened in 2003 near Polaris Fashion Place and had marked the company's first standalone eatery in central Ohio.

While the original Polaris location closed, a new drive-thru less than a mile away at 1515 Polaris Parkway opened. The 5,000-square-foot restaurant features a dual-lane drive-thru, an updated dining room, a playground and a designated mobile pick-up counter for guests dining in or on-the-go. Mackenzie River closed earlier this year and auctioned off its furniture in March before the building was demolished to make room for the new Polaris Chick-fil-A.

Waylon Willoughby, the franchisee of the Sancus Boulevard location who began working as a Chick-fil-A team member at age 15, is also operating the new Polaris Chick-fil-A and is set to open a new Westerville Chick-fil-A at 680 Polaris Parkway in 2025.

Mackenzie River was one of several Columbus-area restaurants demolished for a new Chick-fil-A. Worthington's Buca di Beppo is set to be demolished after the site was purchased by the fast food chain in April, auditor's office records show. While the restaurant remains open with a shuttering date yet to be announced, the location's closing will dwindle Buca di Beppo to three Ohio eateries: one in downtown Columbus, another in Strongsville and a third near Cincinnati.