Coachella Valley's First Chick-Fil-A Store Set To Open In Palm Desert

PALM DESERT, CA — A Chick-fil-A store is set to open Thursday in Palm Desert, marking the fast-food restaurant's first spot in the Coachella Valley.

Located at 73070 Dinah Shore Drive, the new store will be open for dine-in, drive-thru and mobile drive-thru from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday, according to the company.

David Peck is the independent franchisee owner/operator of the store. He will be responsible for all day-to-day activities of the business, including employing approximately 180 full- and part-time workers, according to a news release from the Atlanta, Georgia-based company.

It was Peck's children who really sold him on Chick-fil-A. In 2013, while he was working at Azusa Pacific University, Peck was introduced to a local Chick-fil-A restaurant operator Carlos Mayen Solorzano. After becoming friends, Peck learned more about Chick-fil-A and he liked what he discovered.

Amazingly, each of Peck's four children would work at Chick-fil-A, giving the family patriarch a real-world view of the company and its practices.

“I was able to experience the training and empowerment of each of my children's first jobs, as they were encouraged to work hard, and make a difference each and every day," Peck said.

Peck eventually joined the Chick-fil-A West Covina leadership team working under the direction of Operator Danny Hernandez — but the Coachella Valley has called.

“Palm Desert has such a special place in my heart — it’s where my wife and I got engaged, where my family has resided and where we’ve spent a lot of time with family and friends over the years," Peck said. "I couldn’t be more excited to bring Chick-fil-A to the Coachella Valley."

Peck said he's eager to engage with the community and implement his vision to provide the best first job, next job or last job to local residents. He also wants to be a "great new neighbor in the Palm Desert area" and wants to win "the heart of every guest who steps foot" in his restaurant.

The company has already made community commitments. On behalf of the new Palm Desert store, Chick-fil-A will donate $25,000 to Feeding America.

"These funds will be distributed to partners in the greater Coachella Valley area to aid in the fight against hunger," according to the Chick-fil-A news release.

The new store will also be recognizing 100 local heroes who are making an impact in the valley through their service. They will be provided free Chick-fil-A meals for a year, according to the company.

The restaurant will also be participating in the Chick-fil-A Shared Table Program, an initiative that redirects surplus food from the restaurant to local soup kitchens, shelters, food banks and nonprofits in need.

Known for its chicken sandwiches, Chick-fil-A has more than 2,700 restaurants in 47 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and Canada.