Introducing Karleen Rhodes: An Edmonton-area Native Bringing the First Chick-fil-A Restaurant to Alberta

At the age of 16, Alberta native Karleen Rhodes had her first bite of chicken from Chick-fil-A^®, and became a fan for life. And when dining at a Chick-fil-A restaurant more than a decade later, she was inspired to look into franchising opportunities with the company. Fast forward to summer 2024 and Karleen is preparing to bring the first Chick-fil-A restaurant to Alberta as the local Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A West Edmonton Mall.  

Her local ties to the community 
Born in Red Deer, Karleen and her family moved to Devon, Alberta, when she was young, and she has fond memories growing up in the greater Edmonton area. In fact, the West Edmonton Mall – where her Restaurant is located – was the backdrop for many family outings in her early years. Karleen went on to attend the MacEwan University in Edmonton, where she received a business management diploma.

How a heart for service led Karleen to Chick-fil-A 
Karleen developed a heart for serving others at a young age, and she became a leader in a local youth group and supported many community outreach initiatives. That’s how she ended up spending four months in Atlanta engaging in volunteerism at the age of 16, which ultimately led her to dine at a Chick-fil-A restaurant for the first time.  

“It was truly unforgettable,” Karleen recalls. “Every bite was perfection. Since that memorable summer, any time I was travelling or found myself in a city with a Chick-fil-A restaurant, I made a point of visiting. The experience left a lasting impression on me, and I always looked forward to enjoying the food whenever an opportunity would arise.” 

More than a decade later, while Karleen was in New York, she and her spouse, Devake, stumbled across a Chick-fil-A restaurant, and as they enjoyed their mobile pick-up order from the trunk of their car, Karleen was inspired to research franchise opportunities with Chick-fil-A. Given her former hospitality experience, including an operations background with a successful restaurant company, she decided to apply. 

Pioneering the Chick-fil-A brand in Alberta 
When Chick-fil-A West Edmonton Mall opens later in 2024, Karleen looks forward to honouring the legacy of Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy in Western Canada by setting a new standard in the quick-service restaurant industry. Her vision for her Restaurant is to be known for exceptional quality and service, as well as a genuine commitment to community engagement that will resonate with her Guests for years to come.  

“I can’t wait to see people experience Chick-fil-A for the first time,” says Karleen. “I’m also energized by the opportunity to lead and work with the younger Team Members in my Restaurant, which will enable me to provide mentorship and support their development.”  

Giving back to the community is also important to Karleen. Whether through organizing monthly optional volunteering opportunities for her team or donating surplus food from her Restaurant to help feed those in need through the Chick-fil-A Shared Table™ program, Karleen hopes to find many ways to positively impact the local Edmonton community.  

“Our mission will be to cultivate a culture of growth and excellence, where inclusivity, honesty and humility guide us,” says Karleen. “We will strive to create an exceptional Guest experience, foster a welcoming environment and empower every Team Member to learn, develop and succeed.” 

Life outside of the Restaurant 
When Karleen is not actively preparing for the opening of her Restaurant, she enjoys hiking and exercising, cooking and making her own foods – like kombucha, sourdough and fermented veggies – and spending quality time with Devake and their 18-month-old son.  

Our growth in Canada 
Chick-fil-A will expand its long-term investment in Canada, growing to a total of 20 stores by 2025, with plans to open 7-10 restaurants per year thereafter. The company is looking for people who are passionate about the work of serving great food and providing exceptional hospitality in a fast-paced environment as independent franchised Owners-Operators of Chick–fil–A restaurant businesses. Learn more about franchising opportunities by visiting our Franchising page. 
  
About Chick-fil-A, Inc.   
Chick-fil-A, Inc. is the third largest quick-service restaurant company in the United States, known for its freshly prepared food, signature hospitality and unique franchise model. More than 200,000 Team Members are employed by independent owner-operators in more than 3,000 restaurants across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. In 2023, the company shared plans to expand by 2030 into Europe and Asia.

Chick-fil-A Owner-Operators live and work in the communities their restaurants serve, each supporting local efforts to address hunger, education, and making a positive impact. The family-owned and privately held company was founded in 1967 by S. Truett Cathy. More information on Chick-fil-A is available at www.chick-fil-a.ca and @ChickfilANews.