The Chick-fil-A Livonia restaurant brings approximately 130 full- and part-time jobs to the community and honors 100 Local Heroes with free Chick-fil-A meals for a year.
When local businesswoman Vikki Hardy Brown began her latest venture in opening up a Chick-fil-A location in Livonia, she did it to not only make a financial win professionally but to also bring an additional ingredient to the fast-food chain that customers will remember long after they’re done eating.
“It’s my vision for our restaurant to infuse joy within the Livonia community through our passionate team members, great-tasting food, and signature hospitality,” Hardy Brown told the Michigan Chronicle recently.
Opened in early January, the restaurant didn’t waste time serving the Livonia community after Chick-fil-A, Inc. tapped Hardy Brown as the independent franchised owner/operator of Chick-fil-A Livonia.
Hardy Brown told the Michigan Chronicle that while on family vacations, the family of four (including her husband and two daughters) made it a priority to stop at Chick-fil-A restaurants in the southeast where they had “great meals and remarkable service.”
“I had always hoped the brand would expand into my home state of Michigan, and in 2016, I received an email for an informational session for people interested in becoming a Chick-fil-A franchise operator,” she told the Michigan Chronicle of her choice to run this particular restaurant. “I also really resonated with a quote from Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-fil-A, ‘We’re not just in the chicken business, we’re in the people business.’”
Hardy Brown added that during the intentional application and interview process, she also reached out to operators in the state, who couldn’t have been more “gracious” with their time to share more about their experiences as local operators.
As full-time, hands-on leaders in their restaurants and communities, Chick-fil-A owner/operators proudly reside in the areas in which they serve.
“Now, I’m so grateful to serve alongside those operators as we grow Chick-fil-A’s presence in Michigan and as I serve the Livonia community that means so much to me and my family,” she said.
Located at 11700 Middlebelt Road, Chick-fil-A Livonia will be open for dine-in, drive-thru, and carry-out from 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Guests of Chick-fil-A Livonia will also soon be able to place an order for pickup, dine-in, or delivery on the Chick-fil-A App or online.
The Livonia restaurant joins 12 other Chick-fil-A restaurants serving the wider Detroit market.
In Livonia, Brown is responsible for all day-to-day activities of the business, including employing approximately 130 full- and part-time team members, serving guests, and growing relationships with local organizations and businesses.
“I’m so grateful for the invaluable experience gained, ranging from the auto industry to the food industry, where I’ve been afforded the opportunity to cultivate relationships with other community leaders, businesses, and organizations,” she said.
A proud Michigander, Brown was raised in Detroit, attended Cass Technical High School, and graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Communications and a B.A. in African American and African Studies.
“At our restaurant, we’re committed to infusing joy within the Livonia community through our passionate Team Members, great-tasting food, and signature hospitality,” said Brown. “We have so many opportunities to show care, and I look forward to Chick-fil-A Livonia serving as a place where our guests can create memorable moments with their friends and family.”
Before operating Chick-fil-A, Hardy Brown’s career over the past three decades spanned business operations, marketing, and consulting.
“Now, as the local Owner/Operator of Chick-fil-A Livonia, I look forward to continuing to grow those relationships in our community,” she added.
Hardy Brown said that the primary keys to success as a leader begins with walking in one’s purpose.
“When you’re walking in your purpose, people show up and want to collaborate and make an impact together. I also believe that for any business to thrive, care needs to be at the core – caring for each other, our guests, and the community,” she said.
The restaurant has big plans for the community, which is already evident by the work it is doing.
In honor of the opening, Chick-fil-A, Inc. will donate $25,000 to Feeding America on behalf of the new restaurant. These funds will be distributed to partners in the greater Detroit area to aid in the fight against hunger, according to a press release.
Chick-fil-A Livonia is also recognizing 100 local heroes making an impact in the community by providing them with free Chick-fil-A meals for a year.
Brown’s restaurant will also plan to participate in Chick-fil-A Shared Table, an initiative that redirects surplus food from the restaurant to local soup kitchens, shelters, food banks, and nonprofits in need. To date, more than 15 million meals have been served nationwide from Chick-fil-A Shared Table donations, the release added.
Hardy Brown will also sponsor the Detroit Chapter of Jack & Jill of America, Inc. to participate in the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy, a national high school leadership program sponsored by Chick-fil-A Operators, focused on making an impact through action.
“I’m a proud Michigander and the greater Detroit community means so much to me and my family – this is home for us,” she said. “As a local operator, I’m inspired to not only serve great-tasting food to our guests but to continue to give back to the community as best I can. As a Black female leader, wife, and mother of two, I’m passionate about using this platform to develop the next generation of leaders.”
She added that amid challenging seasons throughout her career, she is glad that she didn’t take “no” for an answer and continued to follow the grain of the wood to overcome the obstacles.
“I hope to serve as a resource, advocate and mentor for my restaurant’s Team Members, and for anyone else that I can help care for and encourage, personally and professionally,” she said.
The restaurant chain Chick-fil-A, Inc., with headquarters in Atlanta, is well-known for its hallmark hospitality and the Original Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich. More than 2,800 Chick-fil-A restaurants are located in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada.
Visit chick-fil-a.com/delivery to view delivery options in your area.
More information on Chick-fil-A is available at chick-fil-a.com and @ChickfilANews.
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