A new bill could change the fast food chain’s infamous “closed on Sundays” schedule.
Any fan of Chick-fil-A knows the disappointment of craving the crispy chicken only to realize that it is Sunday and the doors of the favorite fast food restaurant are closed.
According to the Chick-fil-A website, when the first restaurant was opened in 1946, founder S. Truett Cathy decided to close on Sundays so that he and his employees could “set aside one day to rest or worship if they choose.” That practice is still upheld today at all locations.
However, a new bill put forth by the New York State Assembly could threaten this tradition.
The bill, known as the Restaurant Stop Act, would require food and beverage companies contracted to provide services along the Thruway and at the Port Authority in New York and New Jersey to stay open seven days a week.
There are currently seven Chick-fil-A locations at Thruway service areas. The bill states as justification:
“While there is nothing objectionable about a fast food restaurant closing on a particular day of the week, service areas dedicated to travelers is an inappropriate location for such a restaurant. Publicly owned service areas should use their space to maximally benefit the public. Allowing for retail space to go unused one seventh of the week or more is a disservice and unnecessary inconvenience to travelers who rely on these service areas.”
Assemblyman Tony Simone, who is sponsoring the bill, told ABC News:
“You know, we get hungry when we’re traveling. We may not like our brother-in-law or sister-in-law’s cooking and wanna get a snack on Christmas Eve. To find one of the restaurants closed on the thruway is just not in the public good.”
He added that he thinks it is “ridiculous” that a food outlet located in an area meant to serve travelers could close on Sunday, one of the most high-traffic days of the week. Simone and the other bill sponsors are currently seeking co-sponsors to help pass the legislation during the current assembly session in Albany.
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Chick-fil-A did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment.