Charleston Town Center Chick-fil-A to close for good Dec. 31 after 34 years

For 34 years, a trip to the Charleston Town Center just wasn't complete without a stop at the Chick-fil-A. Now, folks in the Kanawha Valley have a few more weeks to make those memories count.

The Chick-fil-A inside Charleston Town Center will close for good on December 31, 2026, Owner-Operator Alan Smith announced Tuesday in a message to customers. Smith said there are no plans to relocate the restaurant.

"It is with a heavy yet abundantly grateful heart that I announce the permanent closure of Chick-fil-A Charleston Town Center effective December 31, 2026," Smith wrote.

Smith made it clear the call wasn't his. "Although the decision was not mine to make, I trust that it was not made lightly and that all options were painstakingly weighed before it was ultimately decided we would not move forward," he wrote.

The closing comes as the future of the mall itself hangs in the air. The mall's owner, Hull Property Group, has announced plans to close the mall's interior next year. Smith said that even with no clear date for the mall's closing, staying open into 2027 would bring logistical challenges that make continuing where the restaurant is "not a viable option."

Smith has run the downtown location for 34 years, and his goodbye read like a thank-you note to Charleston. He said the community "welcomed a young kid with open arms over three decades ago," and that his team members, guests and neighbors will remain his top priority "until the very last second of my very last day in this final chapter."

He also said he'll do everything he can to support his tight-knit crew through the transition, and that the team plans to keep serving customers with the same standard of care through its final weeks, right down to a heartfelt "My Pleasure."

For a lot of West Virginians, this one stings. Generations of Charleston kids grew up grabbing a sandwich and waffle fries between stores, and plenty of first jobs started behind that counter. If you've got a favorite memory from the Town Center Chick-fil-A, there's still time to stop by and say thanks before the doors close on New Year's Eve.