Groundbreaking for Butte Chick-Fil-A expected soon

BUTTE, Mont. — An update on the Chick-Fil-A that’s coming to the flats of the Mining City.

A developer for the popular fast-food chain was in town on Tuesday stating that the project, located in the new Cornerstone Plaza by the airport, will feature a building of just under 5,000 square feet with a play area and will provide between 80-120 job opportunities when it opens later this year or in early 2026.

“It’s part of the mission that we developed for this district. To recruit retail to the area. And this is a catalystic, I would say, recruitment. We’re thrilled that you’re interested in coming to our community,” said Butte-Silver Bow director of community development Karen Byrnes.

The site will also feature extensive lighting, an outdoor patio, and two drive through lanes, with an emphasis on ensuring traffic flow.

The Harrison Avenue South Urban Revitalization District Board unanimously approved a request from the developer on Tuesday morning to provide a $450,000 reimbursement over five years to assist with public improvements to the site like a heated sidewalk.

“So, we’re working through the permitting process with the city. And development, landlord is working on the grading of the site to get ready to hand over to us,” said Sabrina Wright of Chick-Fil-A Development.

The Chick-Fil-A development comes at a projected cost of $5.4 million, and Wright says it will be locally owned and operated. Groundbreaking is expected in late fall or early summer. Planet Fitness and Chipotle are already under construction in the same plaza and are expected to open before the Chick-Fil-A.

The Chick-Fil-A will be on the south end of the Cornerstone Plaza, adjacent to the Butte GM. New traffic signals at the intersection of Harrison Avenue and Enterprise Drive will be going up later this year, and developer Dave Leon is handling those costs.