A new Chick-fil-A restaurant is serving Woodside at its newest location which opened on Thursday, May 8, creating approximately 70 jobs. Chick-fil-A, Inc. selected Aman Mekonen, current local Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A Jackson Heights, to be the local Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A Northern Blvd.
Located at 32-67 68th St., at the northeast corner of Northern Blvd. and the BQE, the new restaurant will serve Guests Monday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., offering dine-in, carry-out, curbside, and catering.
“As we open Chick-fil-A Northern Blvd., I’m looking forward to continuing my work with a company that genuinely cares for both its Guests and Team Members and seeks to create a positive and lasting impact,” said Mekonen in a statement. “I was raised by parents who consistently demonstrated to me the value of hard work, service, and providing opportunity. It was always a dream of mine to follow in their footsteps and own my own business. Today, it feels surreal to say I’m fortunate enough to own not just one, but two Chick-fil-A restaurants in the community that I call home. I’m grateful for the opportunity to open another set of doors to provide exceptional service and quality food to our community and expand the growth and development of my team members, helping them realize their full potential, and uncover entrepreneurial opportunities for themselves as well.”
Born in Tigray, Ethiopia and raised in the United States, Mekonen was deeply inspired by his parents’ local business ownership, so he decided to explore entrepreneurship after serving in the U.S. Army and working in the finance industry as well as real estate.
Mekonen was touched by the unmatched hospitality and cleanliness he experienced during his first visit to a Chick-fil-A restaurant, so he began exploring opportunities at Chick-fil-A restaurants throughout New York City to make connections and learn about the company.
He set a goal to become a local Owner-Operator and eventually opened Chick-fil-A Jackson Heights in 2021, which he will continue to own and operate alongside Chick-fil-A Northern Blvd.
Today, Mekonen and his family have called Queens home for nearly five years and look forward to continuing to cultivate meaningful relationships within the community.
Mekonen is committed to giving back to the Woodside community by:
- Participating in the Chick-fil-A Shared Table program, which redirects surplus food to local nonprofits and has helped to create over 35 million meals to date.
- Celebrating the opening with a $25,000 donation from Chick-fil-A, Inc. to Feeding America to support local hunger relief efforts in the greater Queens area.
Chick-fil-A provides a meal made with real, whole chicken breast and fresh produce, all grown and sourced with care and prepared throughout the day.
