MORE THAN GOOD FOOD – CARING DEEPLY ABOUT THE OAK CREEK COMMUNITY
Chick-fil-A® at Drexel Town Square might be new to the area, but the company has strong roots in the United States. With headquarters in Georgia, this franchise offers more than tasty chicken options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. According to Danica Anderson, Oak Creek Chick-fil-A®’s franchise owner/manager, the company has a much greater vision. “Our founder, S. Truett Cathy (1921-2014), believed we should be about more than just selling chicken. We should also be a part of our customers’ lives and the communities in which we serve,” she says.
That’s why “giving back” to the community is such an important part of this company’s mission. At Chick-fil-A® Drexel Town Square, its priority is businesses making a difference. For starters, the company sponsors the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy at Oak Creek High School, an after-school leadership club that teaches leadership principles and supports the students through two annual service projects. Plus, several students have won Chick-fil-A® scholarships to support their college plans. In addition, “We also love to encourage young learners by partnering with our elementary schools to reward reading and attendance goals,” shares Anderson.
“One of the small ways we support a strong Oak Creek community as a whole is through free monthly family events – like making crafts, parent-child date nights, and participating in summer and fall festivals. It’s my vision that when Oak Creek kids look back on their childhood, they’ll remember our restaurant as a place they got to spend extra time with parents eating together and prioritizing family,” she proudly exclaims
It’s obvious that Anderson, who trained specifically for her owner/manager role at Chick-fil-A®, lives by Truett Cathy’s strong belief in the power of local ownership. Now, as a local franchise owner, she truly leads by example – combining the power of a meaningful national brand with her eagerness to serve her community. “I place great importance on employee development,” says Anderson. “Meeting with our young team members and providing challenging, supportive opportunities for them to expand their leadership abilities is one of the best parts of my job.” She is proud to say that each one of her management team has been promoted from within. To sum it up, Anderson says she is passionate about developing leaders, creating opportunities for growth for her team, and providing an environment where family and friends can connect over great food.
Originally from Florida, Anderson has been a big fan of Chick-fil-A® for as long as she can remember. After relocating to Chicago after college, she met the franchise owner of the first downtown Chicago Chick-fil-A® restaurant, and joined her team as director of operations. There she learned more about the business and how to pursue owning her own restaurant one day. About two years into managing the Chicago franchise, she began the application process and was selected to open the new Drexel Town Square restaurant.
So what is it about Chick-fil-A® that captures the loyalty of so many customers at the very first bite? From tasty breakfast sandwiches, an egg scramble and burrito, to its signature Chick-fil-A® sandwich (and other chicken sandwich variations), chicken nuggets and a grilled wrap – to healthy salads and soups, Chick-fil-A® has something fresh and delicious to satisfy anyone’s taste buds. The Chick-fil-A® Original Chicken sandwich got its start in 1964, when founder Truett Cathy introduced a simple breaded, boneless chicken breast between two buttered buns. And the “A” in the Chick-fil-A® name is there on purpose – it means grade A top quality! This sandwich is still the company’s number-one selling entree at more than 2,000 restaurants nationwide. According to Anderson, “This sandwich has been around virtually unchanged, for 50 years!
Since Chick-fil-A is still quite new to the Milwaukee area, Anderson notes that it has been fun to watch guests move from first bite to raving fans. “Our classics are always popular with guests, but as we approach our three-year anniversary in Oak Creek, many of our guests have found other favorites along the way,” she adds. “Even special modifications like adding bacon and cheese to a spicy sandwich are ways that our guests customize their experience over time.”
Oak Creek has been Anderson’s home since relocating from Chicago in 2015 to prepare for the opening of the Drexel Town Square restaurant. “As a newer resident to Oak Creek, I have enjoyed the wonderful blend of history and vision for the future our community has,” she says. “Drexel Town Square and many of the developments coming to the City are a result of this balance of history and vision. Oak Creek is also beautifully diverse and resilient as a community. I love it here!”
Danica Anderson and her team invite you to visit Chick-fil-A® in Oak Creek, where each customer is a number-one priority. Eat inside or visit the drive-thru, where you will always be greeted with, “It’s my pleasure to serve you!” But don’t visit the restaurant on Sundays, as they are always closed. Founder Truett Cathy saw the importance of closing on Sundays, so that he and his employees could set aside one day to rest and worship if they chose – a practice the company is proud to still uphold today!
Chick-fil-A® Oak Creek
150 Town Square Way • (414) 571-0048 • chick-fil-a.com