TOWN OF ULSTER, N.Y. — Chick-fil-A will hold a ribbon-cutting next week at its new restaurant on the site of the former Red Lobster.
The ceremony will be Thursday, Nov. 12, at 9 a.m. at 1 Miron Lane.
In a press release, Chick-fil-A promised a free entrée or children’s meal to guests who dress in “cow prints” during a Moove-In party on opening day.
“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 Kingston’s turn to join the herd,” company officials wrote.
Site plans approved on Oct. 16, 2025, for the new business called for the construction of a 5,198-square-foot restaurant with a drive-thru featuring two meal-ordering canopies and 101 parking spaces. It replaces the now-demolished 8,400-square-foot Red Lobster sit-down restaurant.
Developers estimate weekday morning peak traffic from the Chick-fil-A would be 28 vehicles entering and 25 exiting, midday peak at 172 entering and 166 exiting, and evening peak at 142 entering and 119 exiting. Saturday peak traffic would be 195 entering and 187 exiting, they added.
The company declined an interview about controversies involving Chick-fil-A’s corporate position on LGBTQ rights. The issue arose in 2012 after then-CEO Dan Cathy expressed support for “traditional marriage,” and over donations to organizations that LGBTQ groups have said are opposed to equal rights. It returned to public discussion Oct. 14 on NBC’s Today show when Cathy’s son Andrew Cathy, who is the current chief executive officer, did not directly answer a question about the company’s position on equal rights.
“We’re focused on hospitality, serving great tasting food and great service,” Andrew Cathy said.
Representatives from the Hudson Valley LGBTQ+ Community Center in Kingston were not immediately available Friday, Nov. 6, for comment.
Support for the restaurant has been evident since the application was filed nearly two years ago, with former town Code Enforcement Officer Warren Tutt saying at the time he was getting questions every day from the public.
“When it finally came out, a lot of (Chick-fil-A enthusiasts) … were jumping up and down,” he said.
Town Clerk Suzanne Reavy said Chick-fil-A’s reputation for unique sandwiches and flavor is well-earned.
“It’s just the way the chicken and the pickle taste and the pimento cheese on the bun,” she said. “It’s just something different. The waffle fries are very good, and the sauce selections are always fun.”
Editor’s note: This story was amended Nov. 6, 2026, at 4:45 p.m. to clarify that Chick-fil-A declined an interview about controversies involving its corporate position on LGBTQ rights.
Dining and Cooking