Chick-fil-A opens ghost kitchen
For nearly eight decades, Chick-fil-A has built its reputation on consistency and staying true to its roots.
From its iconic chicken sandwiches and waffle fries to its famous "my pleasure" phrase and long-standing closed-on-Sundays policy, the quick-service chain has carefully protected the traditions that helped turn it into one of America's most recognizable restaurant brands.
Those commitments haven't come at the expense of growth. Chick-fil-A continues to expand across the U.S. and internationally while maintaining some of the highest satisfaction scores in the restaurant industry.
The company recently earned the top spot among quick-service restaurants for the 11th consecutive year, receiving a score of 83 out of 100 in the American Customer Satisfaction Index 2025 Restaurant and Food Delivery Study.
But as customer habits continue to evolve, Chick-fil-A is embracing a strategy that looks very different from the traditional restaurant model that fueled its success.
Chick-fil-A opens a new ghost kitchen
Chick-fil-A has partnered with CloudKitchens to open a delivery-only fulfillment location in Wynwood, Miami, marking the company's first ghost kitchen in Florida and the sixth location of its kind in the U.S., according to the company announcement.
Unlike a traditional restaurant, the new facility is designed exclusively to prepare orders for delivery through third-party platforms. Customers won't be able to dine in or place orders at a counter. Instead, the operation focuses entirely on serving delivery customers more efficiently.
The Wynwood location at 1900 NE Miami Court operates Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. until midnight and is managed by Chick-fil-A local owner-operators.
While the concept may seem at odds with Chick-fil-A's reputation for Southern hospitality, the company says the new format will maintain the same service standards customers expect from its restaurants.
"We know how important fast and reliable delivery is to Wynwood, and we want to meet the community where they are while keeping our signature hospitality," said Thomas Overby in a statement, the selected operator of the new delivery location and owner of another Chick-fil-A restaurant in the area.
"Our new delivery kitchen location gives us the opportunity to serve the Wynwood community in a way that works best for them," Overby added.
Delivery-only locations aren't new for Chick-fil-A
Although the Miami opening is a first for Florida, Chick-fil-A has experimented with delivery-focused restaurant models for years.
The company launched its first delivery and carryout locations in Nashville, Tennessee, and in Louisville, Kentucky, in 2018, according to Nation's Restaurant News. Those units were designed to support catering, takeout, and delivery demand without relying on traditional dining rooms.
In 2019, Chick-fil-A expanded its delivery strategy by operating from a Northern California shared kitchen facility in partnership with DoorDash.
The company continued testing alternative formats through its Little Blue Menu concept, which debuted in Nashville in 2021. The brand allows Chick-fil-A to serve its core menu alongside experimental offerings such as burgers, wings, and other items not typically available at standard locations.
In 2023, Chick-fil-A opened a standalone Little Blue Menu restaurant in College Park, Maryland, according to a company press release.
The company's relationship with CloudKitchens also predates the Miami launch. Earlier in 2025, Chick-fil-A opened a ghost kitchen in Boston as part of an ongoing effort to expand delivery capabilities, according to the company.
Why more restaurant chains are turning to ghost kitchens
Ghost kitchens have become increasingly popular across the restaurant industry as operators seek ways to meet growing delivery demand while controlling costs.
Because these facilities don't include dining rooms or customer-facing operations, they typically require less real estate and lower staffing levels than traditional restaurants. That can significantly reduce overhead expenses while allowing brands to expand into new markets.
The model gained momentum alongside the rapid growth of food delivery apps and accelerated during the Covid pandemic, when many restaurants relied heavily on takeout and delivery services amid dining room restrictions.
The trend has continued beyond the pandemic. According to Coherent Market Insights, the global ghost kitchen market is valued at $99.3 billion in 2026 and is projected to reach $223.7 billion by 2033, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 12.3%. North America currently holds the largest market share at 31.7%.
For large restaurant chains, ghost kitchens also provided an opportunity to reach customers in densely populated urban areas, test new markets, and increase delivery coverage without investing in a full-scale restaurant.
Chick-fil-A is joining a growing list of restaurant chains, including Wendy's, Wingstop, Starbucks, Jack in the Box, and Taco Bell, that have experimented with delivery-focused formats or partnerships with ghost kitchen operators such as CloudKitchens.
A new chapter in Chick-fil-A's growth strategy
Since its founding in 1946, Chick-fil-A has taken a more deliberate approach to expansion than many of its fast-food competitors.
The company remains family-owned and operates under a local owner-operator model, with individual restaurants managed by independent operators who oversee day-to-day operations in their communities.
Here's some of my previous coverage on Chick-fil-A:
- Chick-fil-A reveals seven new menu items for Spring 2026
- Chick-fil-A is making a major change to 425 restaurants nationwide
- Chick-fil-A launches a new drinks-based restaurant brand
That structure has helped Chick-fil-A maintain a strong focus on customer service and local engagement even as the company has grown into a global brand.
Today, Chick-fil-A operates more than 3,000 restaurants across the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, the U.K., and Singapore, according to its website.
While that footprint remains smaller than competitors such as McDonald's, which operates more than 45,000 restaurants worldwide, and Subway, with over 35,000 locations, Chick-fil-A has become the third-largest quick-service restaurant company in the U.S. by system-wide sales.
The company's financial performance reflects that momentum.
Chick-fil-A system-wide sales growth
- 2025: $23.9 billion
- 2024: $22.7 billion
- 2023: $21.6 billion
- 2022: $18.8 billion
- 2021: $16.7 billion
- 2020: $13.7 billion
- 2019: $12.2 billion
Chick-fil-A generated more than $9 billion in revenue in 2025 and nearly $24 billion in system-wide sales, continuing a multi-year streak, according to data gathered by QSR Magazine.
The company's expansion into ghost kitchens suggests that while Chick-fil-A remains committed to many of the traditions that built its brand, it is also adapting to a restaurant industry increasingly shaped by convenience, delivery, and changing consumer expectations.
The Wynwood location may also provide insight into whether delivery-only kitchens can help the company expand its reach in dense urban markets, where traditional restaurant development can be more costly or challenging.
Related: After bankruptcy, iconic seafood chain closes flagship restaurant
The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
This story was originally published June 6, 2026 at 3:33 PM.