WESTERVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) — Chick-fil-A is now welcoming guests to the chain’s newest drive-thru near Polaris Fashion Place, after another location down the street opened less than six months ago.

The chicken chain’s new restaurant at 680 Polaris Parkway hosted a grand opening celebration on April 18, marking its first location in Westerville. The new eatery employs about 100 workers and is operated by franchisee Waylon Willoughby, who has been working as a Chick-fil-A team member since age 15.

“I am honored to bring Chick-fil-A to Westerville and look forward to creating another space where we can work together to make a lasting difference,” said Willoughby. “My team members and I are proud to continue serving and making a meaningful impact in a community that has given so much to us.”

Willoughby is also the franchisee for a Chick-fil-A drive-thru that opened last November less than two miles west at 1515 Polaris Parkway, the property once home to Mackenzie River before the building was demolished last year. Watch a previous NBC4 report on the opening in the video player above.

Willoughby is also the franchisee for a Chick-fil-A that opened last November less than two miles west at 1515 Polaris Parkway. (Courtesy Photo/Chick-fil-A)

The 1515 Polaris Parkway drive-thru launched as Chick-fil-A’s original Polaris restaurant at 8787 Sancus Boulevard, which Willoughby also operated, permanently closed after more than 20 years in business. The Sancus Boulevard eatery opened in 2003 and had marked the company’s first standalone location in central Ohio.

Now, Willoughby employs about 200 team members across the two locations and has led several initiatives, including providing students from four neighboring schools the opportunity to participate in Chick-fil-A’s high school leadership program. Since 2014, Chick-fil-A has awarded 119 scholarships totaling more than $250,000 to support Willoughby’s employees continuing their education.

Willoughby’s locations also participate in the chain’s Shared Table program, which redirects surplus food to local nonprofits. Since joining the program six years ago, his eateries have donated more than 20,000 meals to the Worthington Resource Pantry.

Along with a drive-thru, the new Westerville restaurant is open for dine-in, carry-out and mobile order from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday.