Two lanes of Chick-fil-A. Yet another Fresno drive-thru is trying to cut down on lines

The Chick-fil-A drive-thru at Blackstone and Nees avenues is often scoffed at as the worst in Fresno, with dozens of cars backing up and winding around the parking lot.

Two years ago, it was voted the worst drive-thru in Fresno in a poll of Fresno Bee readers.

And just last week, readers complained about it again when The Bee asked for opinions on area drive-thrus.

“There is never not a line,” one reader said. “It’s depressing.”

But is it getting better? Or will it be soon?

The restaurant has already added a second lane to a portion of its drive-thru in River Park Plaza.

Drive-thru traffic

Cars are still directed to start lining up behind Westwoods BBQ & Spice Co. and JoAnn Fabric. As they approach Chick-fil-A, they are split into two lanes.

On a recent weekday at lunchtime, both lanes were open and employees were outside, taking orders on tablets. Cars were moving through swiftly, with no line at all.

But on another a recent weekday afternoon, both lines were jammed with plenty of cars. An orange post blocked the second lane near the pickup window, as cars snaked one-by-one past the final stage of the process.

Saturday night, long lines of cars also stretched into the parking lot.

The Bee reached out to Chick-fil-A’s corporate office to ask why lines sometimes flowed smoothly and why cars sometimes stacked up. The company declined to comment. The franchisee could also not be reached.

Construction at Chick-fil-A in north Fresno?

It appears there is more work to be done on the site, judging by permit applications filed with the City of Fresno.

In February, Chick-fil-A filed an application for a conditional-use permit (required for drive-thrus) to make changes that would speed up the line. Plans called for adding a second lane. It also proposed a 319-square-foot addition to the building and a kitchen remodel that would allow the restaurant to serve more customers quicker.

A 1,500-square-foot shade canopy would also be added.

But that application was denied. City spokesperson Sontaya Rose told The Bee the application was not complete.

Then in April, Chick-fil-A submitted a development permit for the building addition and a new menu board. It was approved.

Right now, the drive-thru only has one ordering menu and kiosk. Meaning if employees aren’t taking orders on foot, all cars must go past one the big red ordering kiosk.

A conditional-use permit was refiled July 21, and included a 30-by-70-foot canopy to shield employees from the heat.

Chick-fil-A/In-N-Out/Chipotle work in Fresno

Other busy drive-thrus in Fresno are also making changes. The Chick-fil-A at Fashion Fair has already finished adding an “escape lane” to its drive-thru so cars can leave the line.

And the In-N-Out on West Shaw Avenue recently confirmed plans to lengthen its drive-thru to prevent the line from spilling out onto the street. Work will start sometime early next year, shutting down for several weeks during construction.

At one point, Chipotle had planned to add a drive-thru in River Park Plaza, the same center at Blackstone and Nees with Chick-fil-A and In-N-Out.

The restaurant filed a conditional-use permit application to revive the old drive-thru once used by the bank that previously occupied the building.

Called “Chipotlanes,” the restaurant’s drive-thrus are a little different in that customers don’t order there, but do all their customizing and paying ahead of time via an app or website.

But when contacted by The Bee, a spokesperson said the restaurant will not be adding a Chipotlane.