The Chick-fil-A branch in Austin, Texas has re-opened Wednesday after a five-month remodel, according to 13 WMAZ, and Northwest Austin residents can now enjoy the fast food's good service and menu. However, the renovations in this particular Chick-fil-A branch isn't the only thing that's news-worthy.
Apparently, Jeff Glover, the Chick-fil-A owner in West Braker Lane, has decided to continue paying his 50 employees while the branch is still under construction. Glover has reportedly been operating the restaurant for a total of 15 years, and probably one of the reasons why this particular fast food has lasted this long is because of the kind heart of the Chick-fil-A owner.
The employees were initially shell-shocked when Jeff Glover announced that he was going to pay them even during the re-model. Normally, workers would be out of a job while a restaurant is under construction.
While closed, the Chick-fil-A workers simply had to do some online testing. Glover is now expected to hire additional workers after the store re-opened. The Chick-fil-A restaurant in Austin is now double the size and has a third drive-thru lane.
The kindness doesn't end there however. Five months later, when the Chick-fil-A owner re-opened the store, he decided to raise his employees' salary a $1 an hour for staying with him. Originally before the raise, the workers were paid $11 an hour - clearly already above average since full-time fast food workers in the U.S. earn roughly $3,600 a month before taxes, according to KVUE.
What was the reason this Chick-fil-A owner did what he did?
"It would be a real financial crisis for the 50 families represented by the workers here to have to go five months without a job," Glover told the local news station.
Chick-fil-A is known best for its waffle fries, crispy fried chicken and milkshakes. However, much of the company's success is due to their world-class customer service and how it takes care of its workers, reported The Business Insider.
"I wasn't expecting less than that - he is always taking care of us," according to one of Glover's workers.
On Yelp, customers cannot help but rave about Glover's Chick-fil-A in Austin.
"This Chick-fil-A rocks. They have a great system during busy lunch hours. I don't know how they do it because every time my order is right and fresh. Great job guys!" said one customer.
"This Chick-fil-A was glowing it was so clean! My server was very friendly, and personally brought me my drink and food (both of which were accurate). Great experience," said another.
Another customer also raved about the friendliness of the staff:
"Even in the noon hour, we easily found a parking spot and walked in. The place was full, but every register was open. No wait in line, and then we get a NUMBER for our table. Delivered to your table fast food? And then being asked if we had everything we needed, instead of just dumping it off? Shut the front door!
A subsequent staffer asking if 'everything was OK' caught us off guard. Two more stops offering (and happily getting us) drink refills was shocking. Table clearing, but not in a way that made it seem like they wanted us to leave, caught us off guard.
Then the kicker. When asked if we needed 'anything else,' my friend coyly mentioned wanting a 'Banana Pudding Shake.' The helpful staffer said 'What size to you want? The Small is $2.78.' (I might not have the number right, but he did). So he took the $3, and came back in a few minutes with my friend's shake and the change.
Amazing. At a fast food place."
The Chick-fil-A in Braker Lane is reportedly the largest in the Austin area, with a total land size of 5,700 square feet.
Apparently, this Chick-fil-A isn't the only fast food owner who has a good heart. Earlier this year, a restaurant owner in Alabama, Mark Meadows, gave a helping hand to a cold and hungry homeless man during the winter, according to Food Beast.
Chick-fil-A currently is the dominant franchise in fast food. The company generates more revenue per restaurant as compared to other fast-food chain in the United States, according to QSR magazine.