NSU will soon welcome Chick-fil-A, expected to arrive next semester, to the University Center.
“Chick-fil-A has been the No. 1 requested food venue in all of the student surveys that we’ve done historically,” said Mike Alkurdi, resident district manager. “Chick-fil-A is the No. 1. national brand in the nation right now, so it brings in a very exciting product. It has a high volume of popularity behind it.”
The Chick-fil-A will operate in the kitchen space of Flight Deck, an on-campus restaurant. Flight Deck’s menu offered pub-style food, such as burgers, sandwiches and onion rings, which will no longer be available.
Although Chick-fil-A is not yet operating, the sitting area of the space is still open for students.
“The kitchen and the product being served will be Chick-fil-A. You won’t feel the impact from the front end of it in terms of space, seating, furniture, the TV and events,” Alkurdi said.
Shark Dining has received positive feedback on its social media from students regarding Chick-fil-A being available on campus. On Shark Dining’s post announcing the news, there were almost 900 likes and 100 comments.
Jenifer Brinkman, associate director of dining services, also said the Instagram direct messages were flooded by excited students.
“We want the students’ voices to be heard, and this is pretty much what Chick-fil-A is,” Brinkman said. “You continuously asked for Chick-fil-A to come on campus and it’s not something easy to bring on but we did it.”
Students such as Karla Encarnacion, senior English major, are optimistic about the addition.
“I think it’s good to have several options that differ from the food services that are offered in the cafeteria,” Encarnacion said. “I think Chick-fil-A is probably going to have the most clients because of the popularity around it. In general, it’s a good way to expand the services provided.”
Yet, other students like Kaleigh Nasser, sophomore English major, are not as excited about the addition.
“I personally think that Chick-fil-A isn’t what I would have added, but it’s probably going to do really well with the other students,” Nasser said. “I actually wouldn’t switch Flight Deck for Chick-fil-A because I like the Flight Deck better.”
Neither would Eric Mason, Mako Media’s digital faculty adviser and associate professor in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences. He said he does not endorse Chick-fil-A at NSU.
“Chick-fil-A has a history of working against LGBTQ rights, supporting groups that do conversion therapy, and I think as a consumer, we should always be aware of the ethical dimension of products that we buy,” Mason said. “While the university can decide to have Chick-fil-A, it’s not a company I will ever patronize.”
The Chick-fil-A will not be open on Sundays. But the seating area will open for the students. Also, alcohol will not be served inside, as it was at Flight Deck, but in the outside bar seating area.
Alkurdi said any changes in Shark Dining take into consideration students’ opinions through surveys and voting.
“I need them [students] to reach out to Shark Dining to work out around their needs, and, if it is sensitive, one-on-one with Shark Dining is the way to go,” Alkurdi said.
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