Phonetic Chicken

By: Mr. Wilson on January 6, 2014
The Chick-fil-a fans among us will be excited to hear that rumors of the chain's arrival in Lincoln are heating up. The buzz says that the former Skeeter Barnes building (near 56th and Old Cheney, in the Trade Center) is going to be torn down soon and Chick-fil-a will rise in its place. Supposedly heavy equipment has been sighted in the area, but I haven't driven by recently enough to confirm or deny that. Several separate rumors are all converging on this one possibility. Whether that gives the whole thing support or merely indicates that the rumors' sources lack creativity is yet to be seen. Maybe this is all another "Best Buy is opening a store at SouthPointe" situation. Speaking of SouthPointe, that would have seemed a more obvious general location than the Trade Center. Traffic counts are high in the area, yes, but the Trade Center isn't particularly visible or accessible. Then again, visibility is probably beside the point. Where Chick-fil-a goes, its fanatics follow. I have to admit that I'm more interested in the truth or fiction of the rumors than I am in the restaurant itself. I'm not really one to get in a tizzy over a chicken sandwich. But I know that some folks -- many, in fact -- hail the chain with religious fervor. Whatever makes you happy.

Comments

See what your friends and neighbors have to say about this.

meatball
January 6, 2014 at 9:09AM

I can confirm, as of Sunday, January 5, around 4 p.m., the presence of at least one piece of heavy equipment adjacent to the former Skeeter Barnes. The piece of heavy equipment could conceivably be used in the demolition of a building. I cannot confirm anything regarding Chick-fil-a or anything else at that location.

wish0922
January 6, 2014 at 12:14PM

I attended a seminar conducted by the folks at Chick-fil-A who determine when/where to open in new markets. It was a meeting specifically about Chick-fil-A expansion in Omaha. There were a few of us from Lincoln in attendance (it was a seminar for folks possibly interested in running one of their stores). Anyway, they told us that Chick-fil-A did not have plans for Lincoln for 2013 or 2014. It is possible, however, that their plans have changed.

Matt Olberding
January 6, 2014 at 12:20PM

The building is going to be torn down and a new fast-food restaurant with drive-through is going there. The owner filed plans with the Planning Department before Skeeter Barnes even closed. However, no name has been given for what the new restaurant is.

Mr. Wilson
January 6, 2014 at 12:27PM

@Matt The fast food thing is a ruse, isn’t it? That spot is actually going to be the new Best Buy we wanted back in 2005, I just know it.

Matt Olberding
January 6, 2014 at 1:02PM

Well, my friend’s cousin’s sister-in-law went to the Chick-fil-A in Omaha where an employee told her that he heard from someone at McDonald’s who heard from someone at Burger King that the site is going to be a Subway. That’s about as reliable as some of these rumors are.

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