Chick-fil-A says ‘my pleasure’ one last time at Lehigh Valley Mall

WHITEHALL, Pa. — The Chick-fil-A location inside Lehigh Valley Mall served its final chicken sandwich on Wednesday afternoon, closing permanently after 27 years.

The restaurant shut down at 2 p.m. Dec. 31. Owner Mike Tenaglia opened the location in 1998 as the first Chick-fil-A in the valley. It originally opened on the mall’s upper level before relocating to the lower level in 2010.

“It took a little while to train the guests that we were down here, but once they found us right near the door, it was definitely a lot better,” Tenaglia said.

While no official reason was given for the closure, the Lehigh Valley Mall location is among several mall-based Chick-fil-A restaurants closing nationwide as the chain appears to be pulling out of mall food courts.

Tenaglia said he did not plan to retire, but after the closure, he decided to step away after 38 years in the business due to health issues. He said he plans to spend time with his 10 grandchildren and his wife.

“We love the valley. We love the people,” Tenaglia said. “We appreciate the way they patronized us, and we loved serving them.”

The store operated with a limited menu on its final day due to reduced stock. Customers lined up until the last minute to place final orders. Stevie Blatz, a local DJ and MC who formerly worked at the location, returned to secure his place as the final customer.

As staff handed him his order, a manager announced they were “now serving their last customer ever.”

One customer said the location “has a spot in my heart” and called it “irritating” that they now have to drive a few extra miles to the Whitehall location.

When asked what they hoped would come to the vacant space, another customer joked that they hoped Chick-fil-A would return. The mall has not announced plans for the space.

Four Chick-fil-A locations remain in the Lehigh Valley. The closest to the mall is in Whitehall Township at 2610 MacArthur Rd.

At closing, employees each held a chicken sandwich and gathered for a final team photo before lowering the storefront gate. Staff presented Tenaglia with a cake in recognition of his commitment to the store and team.

Africa Stokes, who worked at the location for four years, said the closure marked the end of her time with the chain.

“I’m just glad I was here to the end of the era, and it was just beautiful all around,” Stokes said.

Jevon White, who started working at the store in eighth grade and is now a college sophomore, said he experienced a range of emotions on the final day. He plans to return to school.

“I really worked here for the majority of my young adulthood,” White said. “I made really good friendships, and I really grew my leadership skills here at the store.”

“It’s been an experience,” Tenaglia said. “Bittersweet, gonna miss people. We’re like family.”