Fans Celebrate Opening of Binghamton-Area’s First Chick-fil-A

Hundreds of people were on hand for the opening of Broome County's first Chick-fil-A restaurant.

Some of the most ardent fans of the Georgia-based chain camped outside the new eatery at the Oakdale Commons in Johnson City.

The drive-thru lanes shortly before the Chick-fil-A restaurant in the Oakdale Commons opened on October 15, 2026. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

The first people showed up around 9 p.m. Wednesday. While some bundled up and waited on the sidewalk outside the restaurant, others spent the night in their cars.

Employees began taking orders on schedule at exactly 6:30 a.m. Thursday.

Three residents from Binghamton's South Side - Kristian, Marcus and Saphyre - were excited as they gave the first order from their drive-thru lane. The 8-year-old Saphyre, who is in the third grade, was to be dropped off at school after she shortly after she finished enjoying breakfast.

Kristian, Marcus and Saphyre were all smiles about 30 minutes before the Johnson City Chick-fil-A restaurant opened on October 15, 2026. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

Mary - another Binghamton resident - was in the car at the front of the other drive-thru lane. She said she hadn't slept while waiting overnight.

Johnson City police officers were on hand to monitor traffic in and around the Oakdale Commons for the Chick-fil-A opening.

Danielle Cannella, Chick-fil-A Oakdale owner-operator, inside the restaurant two minutes after it opened on October 15, 2026. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

Company representatives had worked with police and the state Department of Transportation to develop a traffic control plan to deal with the first wave of customers at the Johnson City location.

The restaurant will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

The view from behind the counter at the new Chick-fil-A on October 15, 2026. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

A second Broome County Chick-fil-A restaurant is under construction at the Town Square Mall in Vestal. That location on the Vestal Parkway is expected to open in January.

Chick-fil-A has more than 3,000 restaurants in the United States, Canada, the UK and Singapore.

WNBF NEWS VIDEO: The scene as Chick-fil-A Oakdale opened on October 15, 2026.

Enter your number to get our free mobile app

Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or call (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.