A Second Helping: Chick-fil-A Expands to Rochester’s Miracle Mile

The new location, at 300 17th Avenue NW, sits on the former site of Wild Bill’s Sports Saloon, tucked between Olive Garden and Denny’s. Plans call for a 5,000 to 5,500 -square-foot restaurant, complete with an expanded 103-space parking lot nearly double the city’s standard allotment to accommodate a steady flow of customers.

“We recognized that this part of town needed more quick-service options, and the Miracle Mile location gives us great access to the northwest neighborhoods and highway travelers,” a Chick-fil-A spokesperson told local media.

The Rochester Planning and Zoning Commission approved the project late last year, after developers addressed concerns over traffic congestion. The design includes bike racks, pedestrian pathways, and an outdoor dining area, aiming to balance customer convenience with neighborhood accessibility.

If all goes according to plan, the restaurant will open in November of 2025, bringing between 80 and 120 new jobs to the community. It will join the city’s first Chick-fil-A the instantly recognizable “Ear of Corn” location on Broadway as part of the Georgia-based chain’s growing Minnesota footprint.

From morning chicken biscuits to the chain’s signature lemonade, the new Chick-fil-A promises to deliver the same menu that has made it a favorite nationwide. But for northwest Rochester, it also signals something bigger: continued growth in a corridor that’s quickly becoming a dining and retail hub.