Chick-fil-A will officially begin serving guests in Michigan City April 3.
TJ Barton is the franchised local owner-operator of Chick-fil-A Michigan City. Barton will be responsible for the day-to-day activities of the business, including employing about 100 full- and part-time team members. An Alabama native, Barton brings nearly a decade of Chick-fil-A experience to his new role.
Barton worked at a Chick-fil-A in the Mishawaka area while attending college, working there for over two years. In 2016, he became director of operations of a Chick-fil-A restaurant in East Peoria, Illinois. In 2022, Barton joined the company’s leadership development program.
“I want to inspire the community to grow and thrive by investing in the personal and professional development of our team members,” Barton said in a press release. “I’m honored to be a part of this community and excited to build a team dedicated to providing exceptional service and genuine care for every guest.”
In honor of the new restaurant, Chick-fil-A has donated $25,000 to Feeding America to support local hunger relief efforts of Food Bank of Northern Indiana, a Feeding America partner food bank.
Barton’s restaurant will participate in the Chick-fil-A Shared Table program. The initiative redirects surplus food from the restaurant to local soup kitchens, shelters, food banks and nonprofits in need. Chick-fil-A Michigan City will also recognize 100 local heroes making an impact in the Michigan City area by providing them with free Chick-fil-A entrées for a year.
Chick-fil-A operates 3,000 restaurants across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. It opened its first restaurant in the UK in early 2025. The first Singapore restaurant is set to open in late 2025, marking the brand's entry into Asia. The company was founded in 1967 by S. Truett Cathy.
