Meet Wesley Lyon: The local Owner-Operator bringing Chick-fil-A to Burlington

Dual Canadian-American citizen Wesley Lyon worked as a Team Member at the first Chick-fil-A^® restaurant in Canada. Now, he’s preparing to serve the Burlington, Ontario community as the local Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A Appleby Crossing, which is slated to open in late 2024.

Growing up with Chick-fil-A 
As a child in Colorado, Wesley was no stranger to the Chick-fil-A brand. In fact, when he was young, his mother was the marketing director at a Denver-area Chick-fil-A restaurant. He fondly remembers those early days when he would visit her at the Restaurant – and the special, “off-menu” grilled cheese sandwich the Team Members sometimes made for him.  

“My mom collected the little plush Chick-fil-A cows,” recalls Wesley. “There are lots of photos of me dressed up in a cow costume with all of them when I was a kid.”

Despite spending some of his earliest days in that Denver restaurant, it wasn’t until Wesley was studying economics and data analytics at the University of Toronto that he found his way back to Chick-fil-A. He spent two years as a Team Member at Chick-fil-A Yonge & Bloor – the first Chick-fil-A restaurant in Canada – when he received a Chick-fil-A Remarkable Futures scholarship and also gained valuable management and operations experience. After graduating from university, Wesley joined the Chick-fil-A Leadership Development Program to pursue his dream of one day becoming a local Chick-fil-A Owner-Operator. 

Building a team and a legacy 
With more than 100 Team Members expected to support Chick-fil-A Appleby Crossing, Wesley is focused on building and leading a team that prioritizes integrity, innovation and inclusivity – and being known for the care they show Guests and each other. 

“I look forward to pouring into my team and seeing the impact we can have together over a long period of time,” he says. 

At his side will be his wife, Maryanne, whom he met at the University of Toronto and also worked with him at Chick-fil-A Yonge & Bloor. Maryanne grew up in nearby Oakville, and her whole family lives within 15 minutes of the Chick-fil-A Appleby Crossing, so she is especially passionate about supporting the Restaurant and the local community. She will engage in the Restaurant’s operations in a variety of ways, from helping manage finances and other business needs to assisting with kitchen operations.  

Together, the newlywed couple – which recently married in Burlington – hopes to host classes about subjects that are of interest to their team – such as personal finance and computer programming. Wesley also plans to nominate his interested and eligible Team Members for scholarships from Chick-fil-A, Inc., something particularly important to him since he was once a recipient himself. 

Giving back to his community 
Beyond his Restaurant, Wesley also aspires to play a vital role in strengthening the Burlington community. One way he plans to give back is by engaging in the Chick-fil-A Shared Table™ program to donate surplus food from his restaurant to a local non-profit to help feed those in need.   

“I want the community to know that we want to provide them with great service, we’re an exceptional place to work and we’re a terrific partner,” says Wesley. “We want everyone we come in contact with to be amazed by our Restaurant and our team.” 

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 seven to 10 restaurants per year thereafter. We are seeking franchise candidates in Canada with an entrepreneurial spirit and a CEO mindset, who are passionate about serving great food and providing exceptional hospitality in a fast-paced environment. Chick-fil-A franchisees are independent Owner-Operators who run complex, Chick-fil-A branded restaurant businesses with integrity and stewardship. 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.