The Original Home of Chick-fil-A

“The restaurant authentically tells the living legacy of S. Truett Cathy and Chick-fil-A. For every single piece of the building we chose — down to the pavers in the parking lot or the designs in the floor — there had to be a story or intention behind it.”

- Jenn Allstun, Sr. Principal Design Lead, Chick-fil-A

Chick-fil-A Hapeville Dwarf House

The Original Home of Chick-fil-A

The sign above the door reads “Original Home of Chick-fil-A”. Now, 75 years after its inception, the historic Hapeville Dwarf House has a new home.

When Chick-fil-A asked Narrate Design to re-imagine the iconic Dwarf House restaurant, we knew it would be a journey and a challenge. Not only did the previous Dwarf House building have sentimental elements that had to be incorporated into the new vision, but the project itself holds deep emotion for the owners — the Cathy family — and the Hapeville, GA community. Together, we navigated an extensive programming and design process that included dozens of visioning sessions and highly collaborative planning meetings, the results of which celebrate the legacy of founder Truett Cathy and the future of the Dwarf House.

The new Dwarf House design incorporates a mid-century residential language that pays tribute to the original space — a converted house with only 10 stools and 4 booths — and feels welcoming and “homey” to visitors. In fact, to many regular visitors, it is a home away from home where they connect with their community alongside incomparable food and service. Senior Principal Design Lead Jenn Allstun says of the design, “The overall layout is going to feel very familiar. It has the same sense of home.”

The new Dwarf House is the 4th iteration of the restaurant, and it is designed to be timeless — honoring its fabled past and ensuring a prosperous future for generations to come.

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What’s New and What Remains

The new Dwarf House is, in many ways, a museum as well as a restaurant. Doubling in size to 10,647 SF, the new structure offers visitors a modern dining experience that pays tribute to the history of the beloved restaurant through thoughtful details that include:

– 16 artifacts from the original building including the iconic “Little Red Door” and stools from the front counter of the 1967 building

– The stained-glass windows from the 1967 building have been preserved and enhanced by the diamond shape motif seen on several walls and ceilings

– Cathy was notoriously prudent with money, and he acquired second-hand bricks to build the 1967 restaurant; those bricks were disassembled and repurposed for several interior and exterior walls in the new structure

– Cobble pavers in the parking lot that mimic the sound of gravel from the original restaurant which signaled to Truett when customers were arriving

– An outdoor dining area in the exact shape and size of the 1946 store designed using the original building’s blueprints to recreate the counter and stools

– A pie shop serving pie by the slice, inspired by Zelma Calhoun, the restaurant’s iconic pie chef

– A wall-sized mural in the community room is a collage of tiny images of 2,568 Chick-fil-A locations assembled in a photo-mosaic portrait of the original Dwarf House

– Prior to the renovation, the Dwarf House held a ceremonial “last bite” farewell to the old structure where customers were invited to write down memories of the Dwarf House — those handwritten memories were captured and turned into wallpaper used in the self-serve side of the restaurant

– 15 bronze “dwarf” statuettes that represent significant personalities from the history of the business are hidden around the restaurant

– An outdoor pavilion with seating for dining and a children’s play area

– Expanded and updated front counter, self-serve dining, and a large room for community dining and events

– Mobile pick-up area with separate entrance

– Dual drive-thru lanes to increase capacity

– Additional parking for cars and charter buses, including electric vehicle charging stations

The History of the Hapeville Dwarf House

Established in 1946, by Truett Cathy and his brother Ben in Hapeville, GA, the Dwarf House restaurant began as a 512 SF diner with only 4 booths and 10 countertop stools dubbed the “Dwarf Grill” due to its modest footprint. For years, the diner served a faithful clientele bolstered by Delta Airlines and a local Ford automobile factory.

Cathy would continuously experiment in his kitchen, trying out new ideas on his loyal customers. It was this passion and penchant for invention that led him to develop what we know today as the famous Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich. The popularity of this new menu staple would propel the growth of his business and eventually lead to the establishment of the Chick-fil-A line of self-service restaurants.

In 1956, the Dwarf Grill went through a renovation that expanded its visual identity. The original restaurant stood until 1967 when a new diner, now called the Dwarf House, was opened right behind the original building. Then, in the mid-80s, a new business model for the restaurant was developed when a self-service Chick-fil-A was added to the full-service diner. This restaurant stood until the recent remodel process began.

“Truett was committed to this restaurant and this community, and even lived next door to the restaurant so he could wake up at any hour of the night to be there to serve his customers whenever needed.”

– Kevin Moss, Executive General Manager of the Dwarf House for 25 years

Dwarf House and the Chick-fil-A franchise expanded into multiple locations across Georgia and the original little diner only grew in popularity, becoming a prized fixture within the Hapeville community.