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By Amanda Greenwood
Associate News Editor
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Chick-fil-A has responded after a Burger King manager in Springfield, Illinois, told a local outlet the restaurant would close on March 22 and be converted into a Chick-fil-A.
Why It Matters
Chick-fil-A's systemwide sales grew from $14.1 billion in 2020 to a record $22.7 billion in 2024 across 2,730 franchised and company-operated stores, while other large chains—such as Red Lobster and TGI Fridays—filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, The State Journal-Register reported.
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If the rumor—which Chick-fil-A has not confirmed—bears out, it will demonstrate an expansion at a time when other chains are contracting.
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What To Know
The Burger King at 3200 Northfield Drive, which is owned and operated by Carrols LLC, recently temporarily closed because of staff illness before reopening on March 2, according to a manager quoted by The State Journal-Register.
The manager said the closure was meant to avoid serving food while employees were ill and confirmed the location would permanently close on March 22.
The manager also said the site would be turned into a Chick-fil-A, and that the Burger King team would transfer to another Burger King location, according to the report.
Chick-fil-A, through spokesperson Ebony Newman, told The State Journal-Register that the company had no new Springfield locations to confirm and directed readers to Chick-fil-A's Press Room website for company information.
According to the outlet, the restaurant location at 3200 Northfield Drive has been listed since October 2025 on commercial real estate websites, including Showcase.com, advertising a 4,100‑square‑foot restaurant on 1.25 acres along Dirksen Parkway. Sangamon County property tax records most recently showed a 2013 sale of the property for $1.13 million, it added.
Springfield already has one Chick-fil-A, which opened in 2016 at 2431 Wabash Avenue near White Oaks Mall, and the chain operates six days a week, with restaurants closed on Sundays.
What People Are Saying
A Burger King manager at 3200 Northfield Drive, quoted by The State Journal-Register, said: "They are building a Chick-fil-A here, my whole entire team will be going to another Burger King."
Ebony Newman, a spokesperson for Chick-fil-A, said in a statement to the newspaper: "While we would very much like to have more restaurants in the Springfield area, we have no new locations to confirm at this time. Visit the Chick-fil-A Press Room to learn more about our food, our people and the latest Chick-fil-A news."
What Happens Next
The Burger King location remains slated to close on March 22, according to the manager. As Chick‑fil‑A has said it has no confirmed plans for a new Springfield location, and no redevelopment or tenant changes at 3200 Northfield Drive have been publicly announced, it remains to be seen what will become of the space.
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