Chick-Fil-A in Lexington: Bringing More Than Just Food.
By Brock Nye
“It’s awesome because I love Chick-fil-A its just 4 years too late.”- Jex Mecham
In the world of fast food, Chick-fil-A is definitely at the top. Their refreshing lemonade and chicken nuggets are second to none. The problem Southern Virginia University (SVU) has with Chick-Fil-A is that the closest one right now is 40 minutes away. Thankfully, that’s all going to change in about a month when Stephen Bruner brings this delicious franchise to Lexington. This will shorten that 40 minute drive to only a 10 minute one. This is a huge deal. Chick-fil-A is able to maintain their top tier service by small and strategic growth. In the last year, 150,000 applications for owners were put in and only 100 of those were chosen. Personally, I am a huge fan of Chick-fil-A, and this was only strengthened as I talked with Stephen about his business and the goals he aims to achieve.
Stephen’s Background
Stephen Bruner hails from West Virginia, where he met his wife at West Virginia University (WVU). Bruner graduated from WVU with a bachelor’s degree in political science and initially aspired to become an attorney. However, his plans took a turn when he decided to join the army through ROTC and quickly developed a passion for it. He served 10 years active duty as an Infantry officer with various units including Special Operations.
Throughout his career, Bruner had moved 5 times and deployed overseas 5 times. He quickly started to realize that some aspects he loved were changing, particularly the increasing time spent away from family. Reflecting on this, he remarked, “I wanted to find something that I believed in the purpose, core values, and serving others — that is what I loved about the Army. Chick-fil-A has given me that along with being an entrepreneur and spending time with my family.”
At this juncture, Mr. Bruner was stationed in Georgia, where he found an opportunity to transition to Chick-fil-A management, thanks to a connection he had in his church.
Following a deployment and the birth of his son, Stephen filled out the Chick-fil-A expression of interest form to become an owner of a franchise.
This led to many business meetings and interviews as well as a formal application which is 20–30 pages long. “I applied in 2018 for 5 locations and 4 of them got denied.” Stephen looked at this as a blessing from the Lord because Lexington was the one that was approved which brings him close to home and he is able to be a reserves instructor at VMI.
Serving More than Chicken
“We’re not in the chicken business, we’re in the people business.”-Truett Cathy Founder of Chick-Fil-A
Mr. Bruner is delighted to bring high-quality food to Lexington, but more than that, he is excited about making a positive impact. Throughout our conversation, he emphasized his love for young adults and his desire to see them succeed. Bruner expressed, “I love the youth, and I want to serve.” Additionally, he holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in business from Liberty University. The managing partner, who works alongside Mr. Bruner, shares this passion for education, holding a PhD in the field. They both understand the value, time, and effort that go into attending school, which is why they are committed to supporting students through scholarship opportunities and job employment in the future.
Currently, Bruner is actively hiring students for various positions within his company, and a significant perk is the flexibility offered to accommodate students’ schedules. He mentioned, “We are looking for both part-time and full-time employees. We are very flexible with your schedule and want to encourage education.” Furthermore, he has established a leadership program specifically designed for college students, providing them with the opportunity to fast-track into leadership positions.
This leadership program focuses on principles that Chick-fil-A considers important, such as training and development as well as financial stewardship. It presents a fantastic opportunity for students to grow their talents and leadership skills, which will be applicable to other careers and aspects of life.
After speaking with Stephen, he is someone I would want to work with and learn from. He possesses a wealth of knowledge and a sincere desire to help students like us achieve our goals. With a Grand opening here in December, explore the opportunities that Chick-fil-A and Stephen have to offer! Also, always remember to “Eat mor chikin.”
