Is Chick-fil-A Coming to Bluefield?
The campus has been buzzing with news of the possibility of Chick-fil-A coming to Bluefield or Bluefield University.
Walking around campus you may have heard that the plot of land in front of the Dome Gymnasium is being sold to Chick-fil-A. Maybe you heard that the car dealership across the street from the Dome is going to be converted into a drive-through connected with the university and including a Chick-fil-A. While the stories may vary, everyone seems to be talking about a potential development of a Chick-fil-A at or near BU. With all of the buzz floating around campus, the Rampage decided to get down to the roots of this interesting rumor.
According to Dr. Michael Salmeier, BU’s provost and chief academic officer, the rumors are just that — rumors and nothing more.
“There have been talks throughout the past 10 years of developing the land in front of the Dome,” Dr. Salmeier said, but he added that nothing is currently being planned for that space. He did, however, say that opportunities like this are never off the table and the university is always considering new ways for the school to improve its services for students.
Students shared mixed opinions about the possibility of a Chick-fil-A on or near campus. Will Austin said that he would prefer a Cookout instead of Chick-fil-A, but no matter what goes there (beside the Dome) he would hope it would be included in the university meal plan like Starbucks is. Grace Trent was also opposed to a Chick-fil-A beside the Dome for different reasons.
“I think that if we had something built on the plot of land in front of the Dome it would affect the curb appeal of the university,” Trent said. Austin agreed.
“I agree that building something on that plot would not look appealing and would prefer that if we were to build something it should be built across the street,” Austin said. “The first thing I remember when I first came to Bluefield was the Dome and the clock tower right there, and if there was a Chick-fil-A right in front of it, that would ruin the aesthetic of your first glance at Bluefield.”
Freshman Caleb Honaker agreed, adding concerns over the financial aspect of the development.
“I don’t want the school to build anything on that plot of land or anywhere on campus unless it is financially supporting the school or it’s for the well-being of the students,” Honaker said.
Whether you support the development of a Chick-fil-A or not, there will not be one anytime soon. Even though the rumor has been debunked, keep in mind that conversations and ideas are always being discussed and considered in the students’ best interests.