“We should be about more than just selling chicken. We should be part of our customers’ lives and the communities in which we serve.”

- S. Truett Cathy, Founder

Truett’s Chick-fil-A

Chick-fil-A aficionados often travel great distances to visit a unique throwback known as a Chick-fil-A Dwarf House®, modeled after the late founder Truett Cathy’s original restaurant opened in 1946 in Hapeville, Georgia. The restaurant was so “tiny” — only 10 stalls and 4 tables — that Cathy and his brother decided to call the restaurant the Dwarf Grill (later renamed Dwarf House).

Chick-fil-A Dwarf House, a classic diner-style restaurant located in Newnan, Georgia, was approaching 30 years old and producing at capacity with no room to increase output when the leadership was faced with a choice: remodel the existing restaurant or clear the way for something new.

With an eye toward the future and proud ties to the past, the company opted to not simply build a new Chick-fil-A Dwarf House, but to create a new concept restaurant called “Truett’s Chick-fil-A.” Selser Schaefer Architects assisted Chick-fil-A and Ai3 with the design development of the concept.

Working with the owner-selected civil, kitchen, furniture, and graphics partners, we brought in structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering to complete the site adapt-ready construction documents. Selser Schaefer Architects then provided site adaption for the Newnan Truett’s Chick-fil-A prototype.

The fresh design honors Truett’s beloved legacy while enabling the company to capitalize on new ways to delight guests with the Chick-fil-A experience. The new restaurant offers quick-serve, full-service, and drive-through options with modernized comforts, efficiencies, and traffic flow.

Chick-fil-A enjoys a reputation for quality food, exceptional customer service, and a family-friendly environment. And while a lot of things have changed in the last 50 years, the original Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich has not.

Photography courtesy of Miller Zell.