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Chick-fil-A plans first Boston outlet - in Copley Square
By adamg on Thu, 11/08/2018 - 3:47pm
Biznow reports the chicken-on-a-bun chain has decided Tom Menino has not been mayor long enough and is looking to replace the Boloco at 569 Boylston St. in the Back Bay.
Chick-fil-A tried a couple of times to open in Boston in 2012, but was beaten back, first by Northeastern University, when it wanted to open in a school food court, then by then mayor Tom Menino, when it was looking to replace the Purple Shamrock near Faneuil Hall.
At issue in both cases was the homophobic political activism of the chain's founders.
Last year, Chick-fil-A opened an outlet just south of the Boston line, in a parking lot it shares with Ocean State Job Lot in Dedham.
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Comments
As always with Mahty
Boston is "open for business." He doesn't stand for anything but pro-business access politics.
RIP, mayor Menino.
menino
Menino was really not that much better. He just had to like you and you had to pay for access.
Because a policy of denying people
the right to do business just because you don't agree with their politics is SO much better.
I don't happen to agree with Chic-Fil-A's politics, but I'm not going to begrudge them a license if there're able and willling to operate a restaurant in accordance with the rules and regulations set by the City for a food service license. And last I checked, who management chooses to donate their profits to was not a condition, nor should it be, of gettting that license.
This is not just politics.
I would agree if they just had a conservative view of how taxes should be. But they donate to various causes and "Family Research" foundations, some of which are insanely harmful to LGBT people. Foundations that stigmatize people for who they are, along with society still not accepting them fully. These kids kill themselves from the stigma these foundations put forward and teach people. This is not about how to deal with a state budget, this is some messed up kids life, not politics. If you donate to groups like this you are a not someone I would like to meet. They are fueling hate for no reason.
I don't happen to agree with
Well, that's mighty magnanimous of you, but plenty of people find their politics offensive. They think LGBTQIA+ people should be second or third class citizens. I absolutely begrudge them a license to do business here.
QIA+?
WTF? BBQ?
LesbianGayBisexualTransexualQ
Lesbian
Gay
Bisexual
Transexual
Queer
Intersex
Asexual
+ and others
I support rights for all
But at some point it just gets ridiculous. Why does an asexual person need some special designation? And how could anyone discriminate against an asexual person? I feel like there are lots of people out there who just want to be apart of a minority group.
Freud
Freud says you seem like the one who wants to be apart from minorities.
I'm black
Try again.
There's more to being a
There's more to being a minority then just the color of your skin.
Are they DIRECTLY doing anything
like denying customers service based on sexual orientation, that would justify denying them a license on the grounds of not following the rules and laws directly relating to operating a food service establishment?
Last I knew, what management chooses to do with their profits is not a legitimate criteria for determining whether or not to grant a business a license.
Don't agree with their politics? Then don't patronize them. If enough people do this, then they will go out of business.
Since when is the owner's politics anyone's business
You have the same vote that everyone else has -- as RR said -- you can "vote with your feet" or in this case you can vote with your $ -- don't buy chicken from them if you find them to be backing a personally unpleasant position.
However, the last time I checked no government entity should have the power to allow or disallow a legitimate business operating under the laws of the entity in question.
So if Chic-Fil-A follows all the zoning and health and safety laws of the Commonwealth and Boston -- they just like Walmart and any other legitimate business licensed in the Commonwealth should be able to set up shop in whatever city or town that they please.
Now I suppose you could make a case that Boston could pass a "Home Rule Petition" asking the Legislature to pass a law banning chicken sandwiches being sold in the city on all days except being permitted on Sunday. Such an action would have the effect of banning Chic-Fil-A without appearing to be a "Bill of Attainder"
What Boss Menino did was essentially to tell Chic-Fil-A that they could set up their business in Boston -- but it might be unfortunate if it happened to catch fire or something of that ilk -- thankfully he's gone
Don't know about Chick-Fil-A, but Wal*Mart wanted to open a
grocery store in what's now Assembly Row, but due to being unable to get the permits or whatever, because they were not welcome, they moved on. Wal*Mart has long had a reputation for treating their employees rather badly-they're poorly paid, with extremely long hours, plus their food isn't very good, either.
People (myself included) were only too happy not to have Wal*Mart move in there.
Agreed, it'd be one thing if
Agreed, it'd be one thing if they refused service to people/groups they don't like, but this is a far cry from that.
Has anyone actually stopped shopping at Whole Foods?
Oh goodie!
Picketing is my favorite form of exercise!
Yes!
Good because the one in Dedham is packed and far! Save your guilt, it doesn’t work on me.
Can't wait
Great food and they treat and pay their employees well.
No, they don't
They have been sued multiple times and lost because they forced people to pray at work.
Citation Please
Citation Please
do your own research next time
https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2007/0723/080.html
Google
https://www.google.com/search?q=chick+fil+a+was+sued+by+employee&oq=chic...
Here ya go :-) Lots and lots of sources
I will say CFA does pay their employees way above minimum wage.... but thats about where it ends..
Judging from the first page of results
That's two lawsuits.
And "settled on undisclosed terms"
doesn't exactly bolster the argument that Chic-Fil-A is a den of evil and treachery either.
Forbes says...
"Chick-fil-A, the corporate parent, has been sued at least 12 times since 1988 on charges of employment discrimination, according to records in U.S. District Courts."
https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2007/0723/080.html#6e9f934e5971
Which leads to the question
How many times has MacDonalds been sued? Or any other franchise chain. Denny's has faced several lawsuits charging racial discrimination of patrons, including Secret Service members.
All I can say is that the staff of the locations I've been to appear to enjoy their jobs, and they in turn treat the customers well.
12 times in 30 years?
I bet that is fewer lawsuits than other companies of similar size.
It's funny you used Google
since we're talking about company misconduct:
https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/8/18075936/google-walkout-protest-movem...
Don't you believe in Women's rights not to be sexually harassed? #boycottGoggle
and?
What's your point? We're not talking Google. We're talking about CFA
They pay their employees well
They pay their employees well? Citation please.
Here lazy - Up to $18hr.
Probably more than you make with that work ethic!
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-leadership/wp/2018/05/29/a-chick-...
Cool
Hope this serves a similar purpose to the bars at the Seaport District, by siphoning off the type of people who would go there from the rest of town
Explain.
Who are the type of people who go to the bars in the Seaport District? Why is it good they be separated from everyone else?
I mean, it's been a while since I was dragged there
But it seemed like all tech dudes and conventioneers, which, fine, they have to go somewhere, and I'm glad they congregate in one area I can avoid.
Wait...
That Boloco is closing?
Oh, and hard pass regardless.
Yup, no thanks. The south can
Yup, no thanks. The south can keep their morbid obesity, homophobia and religious extremism.
And cars!
You forgot cars!
Go for the long con
I always thought the best form of protest would be for lgbtq population to apply and fill as many positions at a new opening chick filet get it up and running and then walk out
I believe the Nashua, NH
I believe the Nashua, NH location donated to a charity helping gay youth after the homophobic locations were outed. No, I don't have a link because I don't want to google homophobic psychos on my laptop. Hope this location makes it clear they do not stand for bigotry.
I was so excited
Until I read about Boloco.
I was just thinking that Boloco is probably on the way out, which is a shame since I love their food. I'll miss them.
Still, my love of Chick Fil-A is well known. Glad to see they are finally in Boston as opposed to around Boston.
Bolocco
They still have one up the road. Boylston & Charles.
Would hate to lose Bo(ston)lo(cal)co(mpany)
There's another outlet close by, near Boylston and Mass...hope that one is OK!
Chick-Fil-A
Is easily the most overrated fast food joint. There’s nothing special about them.
That's why there's constantly
That's why there's constantly a long drive-in line at the Dedham site. They've been a huge success.
There are long lines for every drive-thru
Americans don't like walking 20 feet if they don't have to
A matter of taste buds?
I have never eaten there. However, I know several people who SWEAR that it is the *BEST* chicken sandwich *EVER*. I don't know about the Freedom Fries. Back in the old days it was KFC. Also, that chicken place (Fontaine's?) on the West Roxbury Parkway but IRRC, they didn't serve fried chicken.
Fontaine's
Fontaine's served magnificent fried chicken. As I recall, it was advertised as "Topsy's original recipe" or some such. Now I'm jonesing for some and there isn't any :-(
Suldog
tastes like chicken
Ditto for Ma Glockner's, which has been reincarnated in Rhode Island.
http://www.visitingnewengland.com/ma-glockners-berched-chicken-dinner.html
Whoops!
Thanks for setting the record straight. Also, the restaurant's neon sign now on display on the Greenway:
https://www.rosekennedygreenway.org/public-art/currently-greenway/glow/f...
and , to boot , Fontaine
and , to boot , Fontaine himself was a righteous dude !
Your Problem
You live in Boston.
Chicken here generally isn't fried, and the fast food stuff is pretty lousy outside of Popeye's, which is hit or miss.
That's why it impresses you. Yankees don't fry chicken.
Spend the money and go to Highland Kitchen or Tupelo or even the fried chicken breast slabs at Redbones.
Tupelo Pines for the Fjords
Sadly.
JM Curley's has good fried chicken
Are you recommending Popeye's?
Asking for Mrs. Waquiot, who realized that we have a Popeye's walking distance. I mean, it's about a mile, but being fast food, perhaps the two miles would be a way to say we ate healthy.
Put it this way
When I was in NOLA, I grabbed a quick lunch in Popeyes because I noticed that the people wandering in and out of the place were nurses, cops, firefighters, EMTs, city workers, etc. - in other words, credible non-tourist folk!
In New England, the chicken is still good - they just are loose about actually having the meals that are on the order screens and sometimes run out of stuff but don't replace it quickly, etc.
Give it a try! I wish I could walk a mile to one (I have biked it but Route 16 is sketchy there).
I go to the Popeye's in Kenmore Square
There was one decades ago, then they left, then they came back. The "dark" meat chicken (drumstick, thigh, and wing) is pretty damn good (could anything be more dry and boring than a fried chicken breast?), especially if it's freshly cooked. Way better than KFC (not a high bar). Not big on the sides, but I usually go for the red beans and rice (tasty, but probably not all that healthy).
What I miss from Brown's in Chicago is the deep-fried gizzards (and livers). I think there were a couple of Brown's in Boston at one point, but they didn't last. Popeye's did the gizzards once as a special, but never again. Chewy as hell, and heart-stopping, but totally delicious.
--gpm
THANKYOU!
I don't get their popularity either. Wendys makes a much better chicken sandwich..
Not to stray too far off topic
but you've clearly never been in and out of an In 'n Out.
Heck no
So we just protected trans rights but we're okay with an anti-LGBTQ chain setting up shop right near LGBTQ organizations? Their food isn't so magical that we should excuse their bigotry and hatred.
Does Chic-Fil-A deny service to customers
who are LGBTQ? If not, then who they choose to donate their profits to is irrelevant to their qualifications to be granted a license to open a restaurant.
As I said above, don't like their politics? Then DON'T EAT THERE.
Bostonians fought against
Bostonians fought against Walmart, fought against medical cannabis, currently fighting against recreational cannabis, got happy hour banned, fought against the casinos...this is simply a non-progressive city! Good luck Chik-fil-a with that one!
It's all about becoming a
It's all about becoming a world class city.
Every acknowledged world class city I've visited and lived in
Has every conceivable fast food place all over the place. KFC, 7-Eleven, Burger King, McDonalds; all VERY popular in world class cities in Europe and Asia.
It's good food
I used to live down South, and ate at Chick-fil-A a few times a month. Delicious breakfast and lunch.
But then I came to understand that the owners let their family's invisible friend invade on their business. And then there was the homophobia stuff.
I've stayed away since. Until they prove their pendulum has swung past "meh" to embracing diversity, I'm not going back. I don't think the city should do them any favors, or should get in their way.
For recruitment purposes..
They should target #Shiva campaign workers who are no doubt seeking alternative (right) employment...
Dear God, no
We'll wind up with Chickfila signs plastered all over every public space and signpost.
All Chick-fil-A restaurants are closed for business on Sundays.
As well as on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Great staff
I dislike the owners politics. And religion, for that matter.
But the sandwiches are good, and the staff in Natick is about 1 million times nicer and more attentive than any other fast food place, and many sit-down restaurants for that matter.
They may be religious whackos, but they sure can run a restaurant. As long as the local spot serves and hires legally, then welcome to Boston!
Booooo!
Boloco has usually tried to find compatible, socially responsible restaurants such as b.good to replace its closing locations. How could they do the opposite here?
If Boloco doesn't own the
If Boloco doesn't own the building, how can they have any influence on who leases it next?
When Boloco has closed restaurants in the past
they have found replacements for themselves, and promoted those replacements. Probably by having the new restaurant take over the remainder of their lease.
One thing about that
They area has 2 B.goods within 3 blocks of the location. That's been boloco's go-to when exiting a location.
Conversely, not to belabor the point, it's a good 5 blocks from this boloco to the nearest bolocos. That makes me sad.
Duh
The TOTALLY stand for bigotry. I honestly don't understand how anybody can see it otherwise. They have spent a fortune to fund bigotry.
How would you like to go through gay conversion therapy or have your kid do the same?
Personally, I won't eat there.
Just like I wouldn't shop at Hobby Lobby or buy a pillow from that guy who prominently features his Golgotha-sized cross in his commercials. If you market your religious beliefs to make money, you lose me.
Great Chicken
Get a great sandwich without the side order of bigotry.
https://boston.eater.com/2018/10/19/17999236/fuku-david-chang-boston-gal...
If you are making chicken a
If you are making chicken a delicacy meal, get to Spinelli's in Day Square for a parm sangwich.
So I assume those who are
So I assume those who are opposed to CFA operating in Boston due to homophobia will also be demanding that the city refuse a building permit for any group building a Mosque in the city as well?
Where is Mayor Menino when you need him?
No objections from the city?
A dollar spent
A dollar spent is a vote of support, and there are lots of places that didn't make a name for themselves by demonizing gay people. I'll pass. I know they've withdrawn a bit from activism but have hardly made amends for the unkind indecency they've trafficked in.
Their food is revolting. It's
Their food is revolting. It's soggy and the chicken tastes like pickles.
I'll disagree there
And I've been going to them since before I knew about the religious bent of the founder and CEO. And given the line at the one in Dedham when I went there last Saturday, there might be a portion of the population out there who agrees with me.