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Construction is underway for a new Chick-fil-A restaurant in the Town of Ulster. The popular fast-food chain is taking over the former Red Lobster location on Miron Lane, which closed in 2024. If construction proceeds as planned, the restaurant could open its doors to customers as early as November.
Town Supervisor James Quigley shared that the developer's timeline estimates a seven-month construction period. Site plans, approved in October 2025, outline a 5,198-square-foot restaurant with a drive-thru and two meal ordering canopies. The site will have 101 parking spaces and is expected to hire between 125 and 150 employees. The restaurant will operate from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
The new Chick-fil-A will replace the demolished Red Lobster, which was one of 50 locations nationwide to close after the company filed for bankruptcy. The Ulster site gained attention when comedian John Oliver purchased its kitchen equipment and furniture for a segment on his show, 'Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.'
The construction project will cover about 2.66 acres of the 11.2-acre parcel owned by CR Kingston Associates LLC. The site also includes the former Sonic drive-thru and a Shoprite supermarket. Traffic plans indicate that vehicles will enter from Miron Lane, with about half exiting onto U.S. Route 9W. Peak traffic estimates include 28 vehicles entering and 25 exiting in the morning, and higher volumes during midday and evening peaks.
While some residents are excited about the arrival of Chick-fil-A, others express disappointment over the loss of the Red Lobster building. The Ulster location will be the first standalone Chick-fil-A in the county, with the only other location currently at the Plattekill Travel Plaza on I-87.
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