First Standalone Mankato Restaurant Brings 100 Jobs, Guests Invited to Dress in Cow Print on Opening Day for Free Entrée
MANKATO, Minn. (Aug. 13, 2026) – A new Chick-fil-A® restaurant will begin serving Guests in Mankato on Thursday, August 20 at 6:30 a.m., with Chick-fil-A, Inc. selecting John Weaver to serve as its local Owner-Operator.
Located at 1870 Adams St., Chick-fil-A Mankato will serve Guests Monday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., offering dine-in, drive-thru, carry-out, delivery and catering. Chick-fil-A Mankato brings approximately 100 jobs to the community and will be the first standalone
Chick-fil-A restaurant in Mankato.
To celebrate, Guests are invited to join the fun by dressing in cow print on opening day to receive a free entrée.
Locally Owned and Operated
- “My journey with Chick-fil-A has taken me all over the country, but I specifically chose Mankato to be my home,” said Weaver. “I’m excited to create a place where this community can connect and enjoy great food together. We want to be a true neighborhood gathering place where every Guest is treated with exceptional care and hospitality.”
- His passion for entrepreneurship led him to Chick-fil-A, where he found a people-first culture and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on Team Members and communities.
- A lifelong soccer player, Weaver credits the sport with shaping his leadership style and passion for teamwork. He’s built many of life’s biggest moments around the sport – including meeting his wife while coaching at a soccer camp! Today, he’s active in a local soccer club and looks forward to coaching in the Mankato community.
Opening Day Moove-In Party at Chick-fil-A Mankato
To celebrate the restaurant moo-ving into town, Weaver and his team are inviting the community to show off their cow spots on opening day for a free entrée.
- Since 1995, the Cows have been a beloved part of Chick-fil-A, encouraging humans to skip burgers and “Eat More Chikin” – and now it’s Mankato’s turn to join the herd.
- Guests dressed in cow print – whether it’s a full cow costume or a simple cow-spotted accessory – can enjoy one free entrée or kid’s meal* in person inside the restaurant or in the drive-thru.
Caring for the Mankato Community
Weaver is committed to giving back to the Mankato community by:
- Providing a $25,000 donation from Chick-fil-A, Inc. to Feeding America to support the local hunger relief efforts of Second Harvest Heartland in honor of the new restaurant.
- Participating in the Chick-fil-A Shared Table® program, which redirects surplus food to local nonprofits. The program has helped create over 42 million meals nationwide to date.
- Since 2015, Chick-fil-A has awarded 915 scholarships to Team Members in the Minnesota market, totaling about $1,956,00 to support their continued education.
To learn more about careers at Chick-fil-A Mankato, click here. For the latest news and updates on Chick-fil-A Mankato, visit the restaurant’s Facebook page and follow along on Instagram. For more on Chick-fil-A‘s high-quality menu options, click here.
*Guests who dress in cow attire on opening day can redeem the offer of one free entrée inside the restaurant or in the drive-thru. Breakfast offer options include the Chick-fil-A® Chicken Biscuit, Egg White Grill or 4-ct Chick-fil-A Chick-n-Minis®. Lunch/dinner offer options include the Chick-fil-A® Chicken Sandwich, Spicy Chicken Sandwich, 8-ct Original Nugget, 8-ct Grilled Nugget or 5-ct Nugget Kid’s Meal. Limit one free entrée per Guest dressed in cow print, while supplies last. No purchase necessary. See the restaurant for more details.
About Chick-fil-A, Inc.
Chick-fil-A, Inc. is the third largest quick-service restaurant company in the United States, known for its freshly-prepared food, signature hospitality and unique franchise model. More than 200,000 Team Members are employed by local Owner-Operators in more than 3,000 restaurants across the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, the UK and Singapore.
Chick-fil-A local Owner-Operators live and work in the communities their restaurants serve, each supporting local efforts and making a positive impact. Chick-fil-A gives back through programs including Shared Table, True Inspiration Awards and Scholarships. The family-owned and privately held company got its start in 1946, founded by S. Truett Cathy. More information on Chick-fil-A is available at www.chick-fil-a.com and Chick-fil-A Press Room.
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