Chick-fil-A planned in La Quinta off Highway 111; would be the second in Coachella Valley
After opening its first spot in the Coachella Valley last year, Chick-fil-A is looking to build another desert location off Highway 111 in La Quinta.
The city council gave its approval to a parcel map Tuesday evening for a mixed-use development that includes a Chick-fil-A with a drive-thru and a Quick Quack car wash, according to a staff report prepared by a city engineer. The project is proposed for a vacant lot northeast of the corner of Highway 111 and Dune Palms Road.
The company confirmed that it is "actively pursuing" a location in La Quinta in a statement to The Desert Sun, saying its representatives are "early in discussions on future locations but are excited by the prospect of joining this neighborhood."
The Georgia-based fried chicken chain has more than 2,600 restaurants nationwide. Its location in Palm Desert near Interstate 10 opened to much fanfare, with long lines of cars in the drive-thru, though it also drew pushback from some valley residents due to the company’s financial support for anti-LGBTQ organizations.
Before the Palm Desert location opened its doors last July, the closest Chick-fil-A's to the valley were in Yucaipa, Redlands and Perris.
It’s unclear when the restaurant in La Quinta — which still must be built on the vacant site — might open. Chick-fil-A did not offer a timeline for the location to open in its statement to The Desert Sun.
More: Valley's first Chick-fil-A opens in Palm Desert, with long lines and 'mixed feelings'
If the development in Palm Desert is any indication, it could be about a year. That’s how long it took from city officials first publicly confirming the plan to Chick-fil-A opening its doors.
The drive-thru restaurant is also being planned for an area where city officials are looking to build new affordable housing. The Chick-fil-A and Quick Quack car wash are planned directly south of a 5.2-acre parcel that the city bought for $3.6 million in January.
It's the second parcel near Highway 111 recently bought by the city with affordable housing in mind. In early 2022, the city bought a 15-acre lot, just a block west of that development, for $8.6 million.
The city hopes to find a single development partner to build on both lots in phases, an approach that could potentially lower some costs, a city housing official told The Desert Sun earlier this year.
The parcel for multifamily housing will be developed “at a later time by a third party,” according to this week’s council report.
Tom Coulter covers the cities of Palm Desert, La Quinta, Rancho Mirage and Indian Wells. Reach him at thomas.coulter@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Chick-fil-A planned in La Quinta; would be second in Coachella Valley
