From the Ground Up: Chick-fil-A

General contractor: Tech Builders (Fairmont, Minn.)

Architect: Edwards & Hotchkiss (Nashville, Tenn.)

Engineers: Post, Buckley, Schuler & Jernigan (Atlanta)

Size: 4,227 square feet

Estimated cost: $1.5 million

Lender: None

Estimated completion date: January

Project description: Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A is opening four free-standing fast-food restaurants in Missouri next year, including this one in Springfield, according to Senior Manager of Public Relations Jerry Johnston. Steve Lowery, the current franchisee for the chain’s Battlefield Mall location, will be the franchisee for this location. Corporate will award the Battlefield Mall location to another franchisee, Lowery said in a July interview with Springfield Business Journal. Chick-fil-A started in mall food courts in 1967, but since the mid-1980s has been building mostly free-standing restaurants. Johnston said Chick-fil-A now has 388 mall locations and more than 640 free-standing. Last week, the company hit $2 billion in sales for the first time.

Reporter Cory Smith brings you new projects each week. He may be reached by e-mail, by fax at (417) 799-0603 or by phone at (417) 831-3238.