Chick-fil-A began serving the Pullman community with a new restaurant opening on Thursday, April 17 at 11131 S. Corliss Ave. Chick-fil-A, Inc. has selected Elise Mills as the independent franchised local Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A Pullman.
Open from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday, the 5,100-square-foot restaurant brings 100 jobs to the community and offers dine-in, drive-thru, carry-out, catering pick-up, delivery and Mobile Thru. It seats 72 Guests inside and 24 on the patio, and features an indoor play area for families and sustainable design elements including electric car charging stations and bike racks.
Chick-fil-A Pullman is one of 15 new Chick-fil-A restaurants opening in the Chicagoland area by 2027, adding an estimated 1,500 additional jobs to the city.
Caring for the South Side and Chicagoland
For nearly two decades, Chick-fil-A has served tight-knit communities with a commitment to care across its Chicagoland restaurants:
- Investing in Team Members: The opening of Chick-fil-A Pullman creates 100 jobs for residents, offering a wide range of benefits, including hands-on training, competitive pay and benefits, the chance to apply for scholarships and flexible work schedules. Mills partnered with the Hope Center Foundation’s Workforce Development Program as part of its recruiting efforts. Learn more about careers at Chick-fil-A.
- Developing Future Leaders: Through the Chick-fil-A Remarkable Futures™ Scholarships initiative, Chick-fil-A has awarded $3,100,000 worth of scholarships to Team Members in the Chicago area since 2010.
- Feeding America Partnership: Chick-fil-A, Inc. has donated $25,000 to Feeding America to support local hunger relief efforts at The Greater Chicago Food Depository, a Feeding America partner food bank. Since 2020, Chick-fil-A has donated over $550,000 to Feeding America partners in the greater Chicago area.
- Redirecting Surplus Food: Chick-fil-A Pullman will participate in the Chick-fil-A Shared Table® program, redirecting surplus food from the restaurant to local shelters, food banks and nonprofits. Over 565,000 meals have been donated from Chicagoland restaurants since 2020, with the number continuing to grow.
- Recognizing the Community: Chick-fil-A Pullman will recognize 100 local heroes making an impact in the Pullman area by providing them with free Chick-fil-A entrées for a year.
Elise Mills, a 14-year Chick-fil-A veteran who started as a Team Member, is the local Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A Pullman. Determined to make a lasting impact on others’ lives, Mills joined the Chick-fil-A Leadership Development Program, where she supported new restaurant openings in bustling cities across the United States. Now a local resident in Chicago, Mills is dedicated to developing her team, cultivating local partnerships and giving back to the community.
“Chick-fil-A has shaped my personal and professional growth, and I am honored to introduce our signature hospitality and delicious food to the Pullman community,” Mills said in a statement. “In my journey from Team Member to local Owner-Operator, I have personally been able to change lives through the medium of food and I look forward to bringing that positive impact to our neighborhood.”
Developed in partnership with Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives (CNI) and Hope Center Foundation, the restaurant is the first business to join Pullman Gateway, a new 8-acre commercial center on Chicago’s South Side.
“The ongoing revitalization of the Pullman and Roseland communities is energizing,” said 9th Ward Alderman Anthony A. Beale. “The opening of Chick-fil-A Pullman serves as an exciting milestone for future growth and job creation in Pullman Gateway.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Chick-fil-A to Pullman Gateway, where we are proud to be developing a vibrant center alongside established and new businesses and organizations,” said David Doig, President of CNI and Reverend James Meeks, President/CEO of Hope Foundation, in a joint statement. “We look forward to the continued retail resurgence and new developments ahead.”
