Is Chick-fil-A still coming to Merced? Here’s the latest update
Is Merced still getting a Chick-fil-A?
It’s been more than two years since city officials announced plans for a Chick-fil-A location in Merced — and many residents are wondering what’s happening now.
Facebook user Ashley Singh asked in a local Merced group: “Does anyone know if location has changed or is the plans for this restaurant not happening anymore?”
We reached out to the city for an update.
Here’s what officials told us:
What is Chick-fil-A?
Chick-fil-A is a fast-food chain best known for its chicken sandwiches.
It ranks among the top 50 restaurant chains nationwide by domestic sales, according to Nation’s Restaurant News.
The company was founded by S. Truett Cathy, who opened the first Chick-fil-A restaurant in Atlanta in 1967.
Still family-owned, Chick-fil-A employs about 140,000 people and reported $7.9 billion in revenue in 2024, according to Forbes. In 2025, Forbes also named the company one of America’s Best Large Employers.
Chick-fil-A operates more than 3,000 restaurants across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, the company said.
That includes more than five locations serving the Central Valley.
What’s on the menu at Chick-fil-A?
In addition to chicken sandwiches, the menu at Chick-fil-A offers plenty of other options.
Entrees include chicken nuggets, chicken strips and a grilled chicken wrap. Customers can also choose from salads and popular sides — including waffle fries and macaroni and cheese.
Breakfast is served until 10:30 a.m., with items such as chicken breakfast sandwiches on biscuits, a berry parfait and a hash brown scramble bowl.
Beverage options include iced tea, lemonade, soda and coffee, while desserts range from milkshakes and ice cream to cookies and brownies.
Is Chick-fil-A still opening in Merced?
According to city officials, Chick-fil-A is still planned for Merced, but the project is currently on hold.
The restaurant was originally slated to be built near 15th Street and Martin Luther King Way off Highway 99.
The location would place it near other popular fast food spots, including In-N-Out Burger, Wendy’s, Taco Bell and Popeyes.
The delay is tied to California’s high-speed rail project, the city said.
Merced is one of four Central Valley cities set to get a bullet train station, along with Fresno, Bakersfield and an area near Hanford. The future Merced station will be along 15th Street between O and R streets.
City officials said construction on the Chick-fil-A “could potentially proceed,” but only after key rail plans are finalized.
Design work on the rail project is expected to be completed by mid-2026, which could allow construction to begin as early as 2027, Margaret Cederoth, the director of planning and sustainability for the High Speed Rail Authority, previously told the Merced Sun-Star.
The California High-Speed Rail Authority currently expects to begin carrying passengers on the 171-mile line between Merced and Bakersfield sometime between 2030 and 2033.
Where is the nearest Chick-fil-A to Merced?
If you’re craving Chick-fil-A, the closest locations to Merced are about an hour away.
According to Google Maps, the nearest Chick-fil-A is in Fresno. The restaurant at 8040 North Blackstone Ave. sits about 55 miles south of Merced, or roughly a one-hour drive.
Another option is in Manteca, at 1405 East Yosemite Ave. That location is also about 55 miles north of Merced and takes around an hour to reach by car.
