Chick-fil-A is making its way to the Detroit-Grosse Pointe border on Mack and Rivard as construction is in motion. It is expected to arrive in October, but the excitement hasn’t come without controversy. Some students and staff at South are looking forward to the convenience, while others worry about the traffic, safety and the restaurant’s impact on the community.
Many Grosse Pointe residents are concerned about the congestion on Mack and Rivard. Anti-Chick-fil-A signs have become a form of protest lining up along the Grosse Pointe streets, especially the residents who have to deal with traffic the most along Rivard. The Giving Tree Montessori Learning Center, located next door to the Chick-fil-A, is currently in a legal dispute with the chain over safety concerns during pick-up and drop-off for the children.
Libby Anderson ’26 has already dealt with the Chick-fil-A construction this summer while babysitting and dropping the kids off at The Giving Tree.
“I would go around 9 a.m. every morning to drop the kids off, and there would be so much construction and so much traffic since there’s only one road to get to the daycare and the Chick-fil-A,” Anderson said. “I understand why people on Rivard are upset about it being built since it’s already created a major disturbance, and it hasn’t even officially opened.”
Not all South students share that frustration. Hannah Agnone ’27 said she is eager to have one of her favorite restaurants in closer proximity to home.
“I love Chick-fil-A’s food, so I’m very excited about it coming to Grosse Pointe,” Agnone said. “It’s so annoying to drive 20 minutes away to the nearest one, now it’s going to be so much closer and easier to get to.”
Teachers are also weighing in on the dispute. South history teacher and social studies department chair, Peter Palen, loves a Chick-fil-A kale salad, but worries about the location being so close to a school.
“I don’t like seeing a vacant, abandoned building, so I’m happy they’re putting something there because I do love Chick-fil-A, but I do realize the disturbance it can cause,” Palen said. “With all the traffic the drive-through can bring, and I’ve read online about parents of the kids who attend The Giving Tree, they’re worried about their children being exposed to immense car exhaust and traffic, so I understand safety is a concern.”
Agnone compared the controversial traffic to that of a few of Grosse Pointe’s other popular fast-food restaurants.
“I think a drive-through probably will cause traffic, but over time it may chill out like when the Taco Bell and McDonald’s came near Grosse Pointe and they were super busy,” Agnone said.
