Middletown may not get that second Chick-fil-A after all; here's why and what's next
Chick-fil-A's plans to build a second fast-food restaurant with drive-thru in Middletown has hit a speed bump that could bring the project to a halt.
Chick-fil-A had been eyed for Langhorne Square
Waterstone Properties went before the Middletown Planning Commission April 5 seeking to subdivide from the rest of the Langhorne Square shopping center the parcel of land on which the Chick-fil-A was supposed to be built, but without a potential tenant listed for the site.
More: Middletown to continue review of second Chick-Fil-A
In 2021, Waterstone Properties sold the 12.05-acre Langhorne Square to U & Me Langhorne LLC of New York, but planned to regain ownership of the 1.88 acres at 1503 E. Lincoln Highway intended for the Chick-fil-A in part of the Langhorne Square parking lot.
But construction has not begun.
What would go on site planned for Chick-fil-A?
Dan Gustafson, senior vice president with Waterstone, based in Massachusetts, said the firm needs to have the property subdivided from the rest of the shopping center so it could regain ownership of the parcel and then market it to other potential commercial users. It is located between the Inspire Federal Credit Union and the Starbucks restaurant along East Lincoln Highway.
"We are hopeful it will be a Chick-fil-A but we cannot guarantee that Chick-fil-A would develop that site," attorney Michael Meginniss, who represented Waterstone, said.
A wide variety of businesses could use the site and Meginniss assured homeowners who live in the Highland Park community behind the shopping center that Chick-fil-A likely would generate the most customers so other uses probably would not bring as much traffic to the neighborhood.
Chick-fil-A, based in Atlanta, has another restaurant four miles away at 2424 E. Lincoln Highway, also in Middletown. That restaurant frequently has long lines of vehicles waiting in its drive-thru for chicken nuggets, sandwiches and lemonade.
Chick-fil-A could not be reached Thursday for comment.
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This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Chick-fil-A in Middletown may not hatch at Langhorne Square
