Traffic plan set for massive turnout when Chick-fil-A Roseville opens next month – Macomb Daily

When Macomb County’s second Chick-fil-A restaurant opens next month in Roseville, a detailed plan has been developed to handle expected heavy traffic, the city’s police chief said Tuesday.

The new restaurant is expected to open in the parking lot of the Macomb Mall on Gratiot Avenue near Masonic Boulevard on Thursday, Oct. 3, local owner/operator Josh Holbrooks said at the Roseville City Council meeting.

“We’re really excited to be selling chicken, to say the least,” Holbrooks told the council.

The Atlanta, Georgia-based fried chicken chain, known for its chicken sandwiches, waffle fries and delicious milkshakes, said each store is locally owned and operated and creates between 80 and 120 jobs in the area.

City officials say they have been working on a plan to handle the heavy traffic expected at the company’s site.

When the county’s first Chick-fil-A store opened in 2021 on Hall Road in Shelby Township, it faced a huge traffic congestion problem caused by customers eager to get their hands on food. But company officials said Shelby Township operators found themselves in a unique situation when they opened because it was at the height of the COVID-19 crisis, when indoor dining was prohibited.

They believe that as more stores open in Macomb County, congestion will ease.

According to Police Chief Mitch Berlin, the police department has met with company officials several times to develop a plan that includes signs, traffic cones, pylons and manpower. The chief said there is no way to predict turnout, adding that officials will evaluate the plan as it goes along.

“We will have those resources inside the parking lot and on Gratiot Avenue to ensure a continuous flow out of the parking lot,” he said. “We will potentially close the first lane of Gratiot if the need arises to ensure that everything runs smoothly.”

Berlin said that in the event of a large influx, all city resources will be available “immediately rather than having to call and wait for them to arrive, which will cause a big mess.”

“Cones, pylons and barricades mean fewer police officers need to be present to direct traffic,” he added.

According to the police department, Chick-fil-A will be billed for any additional security costs.

Council members said they were pleased to welcome the company to Roseville.

“I think it will be a popular place for crowds,” said Councilwoman Jan Haggerty.

Earlier this month, Chick-fil-A officials said they plan to open between 25 and 30 new restaurants in Michigan by the end of 2028.

The new expansion will include restaurants in several areas, including Chesterfield Township, Roseville, Taylor and Fort Gratiot, Detroit, Auburn Hills, Lincoln Park, Orion Township, Clinton Township, Canton and Ann Arbor.

The Roseville restaurant is located at 32061 Gratiot. Chick-fil-A Roseville will be open for dine-in, drive-thru and takeout from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday. It is closed on Sundays.

Originally published: September 25, 2024 at 9:03 a.m.