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June 9, 2009

Hometown ties run deep for one Chick-fil-A owner-operator

DAVID BALL

PORT ARTHUR — A hometown girl will be returning to Port Arthur once the Chick-fil-A restaurant is finished building.

Becky Tschirhart, formerly Becky Dair, was born and raised in Port Arthur and graduated Thomas Jefferson High School in 1977. Her husband, Mike Tschirhart, will be the owner-operator of the new restaurant and Becky will be the unit marketing director.

According to a press release from the company, the new stand-alone Chick-fil-A restaurant at 8701 Memorial Blvd. is projected to open in July and will feature a 4,596 square-foot interior that seats 138. There will be an indoor play area for children and a full breakfast, lunch and dinner menu.

The couple currently own and operate a Chick-fil-A in Greenville. They will trade that one in to start the Port Arthur store.

“Chick-fil-A was gracious enough to do that for us and they want to keep the family together,” Mike said. “Chick-fil-A is a great company. A fantastic company. I tell young kids on the job to encourage them to stay with the company. Seventy percent of our owner-operators worked their way up.”

Once the new restaurant opens, Mike and Becky plan to become very involved in Mid-and South-County organizations for youth, churches and schools.

Mike added they will begin interviewing for 65 new team and management positions on Wednesday. It also affords them an opportunity to begin meeting the community.

“We’re looking for applicants from all walks of life,” he said.

The new restaurant is one of 65 street locations Chick-fil-A plans to open across the country this year, creating more than 4,200 new jobs and providing a positive economic impact to the local community.

Tschirhart will give away $26,000 in free food to the first 100 adults in line on opening day. The “First 100” event draws Chick-fil-A fans up to 24 hours in advance who arrive with tents, couches, TVs, computers, games and other activities to pass the time while camping out. In the more than five years since the promoting began, Chick-fil-A has given away more than $9.1 million in free food.

dball@panews.com

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