Chick-fil-A CEO Says Sunday Openings Aren’t on the Table
Chick-fil-A fans hoping to grab a chicken sandwich, waffle fries, and their favorite dipping sauce on Sunday may need to make other plans. The popular fast-food chain has reaffirmed one of its longest-standing traditions, and CEO Andrew Cathy says the company isn’t considering opening restaurants on Sundays.
In an interview with NBC’s Today show co-anchor Craig Melvin, Cathy explained why the company continues to close its restaurants one day each week, even though remaining shut means missing out on potential sales.
The decision reflects the company’s history, its founder’s values, and its commitment to giving employees a predictable day off. For a major fast-food chain operating thousands of restaurants, that approach remains unusual in an industry where many competitors serve customers seven days a week.
A Tradition That Dates Back to 1946
Chick-fil-A’s Sunday closure policy is almost as recognizable as its chicken sandwich. The practice dates back to 1946, when founder S. Truett Cathy opened his first restaurant in Hapeville, Georgia.
According to the company’s official history, Cathy had experienced the demands of working seven days a week in restaurants that operated around the clock. He decided that his employees should have one day to rest, spend time with their families, or worship if they wished.
That decision became a defining part of the company’s business philosophy and has remained in place as the restaurant expanded across the United States and into international markets.
For Cathy, the policy is not simply a scheduling decision. It reflects the values on which his family built the business.
The company explains its reasoning on its official website, noting that the Sunday closure gives employees a chance to step away from work and focus on personal priorities.
More than seven decades later, that principle remains central to the brand’s identity.
CEO Andrew Cathy Says the Policy Isn’t Changing
During his recent interview, Andrew Cathy made it clear that the company has no plans to abandon its Sunday closure policy.
He explained that the practice has continued because the company considers it important, rather than treating it as a decision that should be reconsidered whenever there is an opportunity to generate additional revenue.
Cathy also pointed to the advantages of operating as a privately held, family-owned business. Unlike companies facing pressure to maximize daily sales for public shareholders, Chick-fil-A can keep prioritizing a longstanding policy even when it means forgoing potential business.
Perhaps the most striking part of his comments was his admission that he had never calculated precisely how much money the chain might be missing by remaining closed on Sundays.
His reasoning was straightforward: the company isn’t entertaining Sunday openings.
That position is significant because it suggests customers should not expect a nationwide policy change simply because competitors remain open throughout the weekend.
For Chick-fil-A, the tradition appears to be a deliberate business choice rather than a temporary restriction.
Employees Get a Guaranteed Day Off
One of the company’s main arguments for keeping restaurants closed on Sundays is the benefit to its workforce.
Restaurant jobs can involve demanding schedules, busy weekend shifts, and long hours serving customers. Many fast-food businesses rely on weekend sales, making Saturdays and Sundays especially important.
Chick-fil-A takes a different approach by giving employees a predictable day when its restaurants are closed.
Cathy explained that workers appreciate knowing they will have at least one weekend day off.
That predictability can make it easier for employees to plan family activities, personal commitments, or time to rest. For workers who value having Sundays free, the policy may also make the chain an attractive employment option.
Of course, individual experiences can differ depending on a worker’s role, schedule, and location. A guaranteed Sunday closure does not automatically mean every employee has an ideal work-life balance.
Nevertheless, the policy offers a clear benefit that sets Chick-fil-A apart from many restaurants open seven days a week.
It also reinforces the company’s argument that business decisions should consider employees, not just sales.
Chick-fil-A Is Still Performing Strongly
Closing every Sunday may put Chick-fil-A at a disadvantage compared with restaurants that stay open all week. However, the chain’s reported sales figures suggest the policy has not prevented it from competing successfully.
According to figures cited in recent reporting, Chick-fil-A’s average annual sales per restaurant reached about $9.16 million in 2025.
The chain also continued expanding its restaurant network, with reporting indicating that it added 179 restaurants in 2025 and reached 2,863 locations.
Those figures help explain why the company may feel little pressure to change a policy central to its identity.
High sales do not prove that Sunday closures directly cause business success. Other factors, such as menu popularity, restaurant locations, customer service, and operational efficiency, also influence performance.
Still, Chick-fil-A’s ability to generate substantial sales while operating six days a week challenges the assumption that every restaurant must remain open daily to compete effectively.
For customers, it also shows that a business can adopt a distinctive operating model without necessarily sacrificing its market position.
Why Customers Continue to Debate Sunday Closures
Despite the company’s position, the policy still frustrates some customers.
Sunday is a popular day for family outings, shopping trips, sporting events, and travel. People who enjoy Chick-fil-A’s menu may naturally wish they could visit whenever they want.
The frustration can be especially noticeable when someone remembers the restaurant only after arriving at a shopping center or pulling into a familiar drive-through.
For customers who rely on the chain for a quick meal, the closure means choosing another restaurant or planning a visit for a different day.
However, many customers have adapted to the schedule. Some plan their Chick-fil-A visits for Saturdays, while others choose different options on Sundays.
The policy has also become part of the company’s public identity. Rather than treating Sunday closures as an inconvenient operational detail, Chick-fil-A has maintained the practice long enough for it to become one of the brand’s most recognizable aspects.
That familiarity may help explain why the question keeps drawing attention whenever executives discuss the company’s future.
Could Chick-fil-A Ever Make an Exception?
For now, customers should not expect ordinary Chick-fil-A restaurants to start opening on Sundays.
The company’s official explanation presents the closure as a longstanding policy, and Cathy’s recent comments reinforce that position.
Unusual circumstances can lead to food being provided outside a restaurant’s normal operations, such as emergencies or special community situations. However, those circumstances should not be confused with a general decision to open restaurants for regular Sunday business.
The broader principle remains the same: the company has chosen to preserve its weekly closure rather than pursue every possible sales opportunity.
That decision may occasionally inconvenience customers, but it also sends a consistent message to employees and the public.
Unless Chick-fil-A announces a formal change, Sunday closures remain part of its operating model.
What This Means for Chick-fil-A Fans
For customers, the takeaway is simple: if a Chick-fil-A meal is part of your weekend plans, visit on a day when the restaurant is open.
The chain continues to evolve in other areas, including its menu and restaurant operations, but its Sunday policy remains firmly rooted in its founding philosophy.
Andrew Cathy’s latest comments make it clear that the company does not view opening on Sundays as necessary for growth.
Instead, Chick-fil-A is choosing to maintain a tradition that balances business operations with its priorities for employees and the company culture.
Whether customers agree with the policy or wish the restaurants were open seven days a week, it is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.
In a fast-food industry that often measures success by convenience and operating hours, Chick-fil-A continues on a different path.
For fans hoping to pick up waffle fries on Sunday, leadership’s message is clear: plan, because the chain will remain closed.
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