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March 31, 2016 - King’s College has signed a 10-year contract with Chartwells Higher Education Dining Services effective July 1. 

A highlight of the contract which will affect the local community is the placement of a Chick-fil-A franchise in the King’s on the Square building on Public Square.  The restaurant, the first Chick-fil-A franchise in Luzerne County, will be located in the space currently occupied by Zime restaurant.

“We are very pleased to enter this long-term arrangement with a quality partner such as Chartwells,” said John R. Loyack, executive vice president for business affairs and administration at King’s.  “We look forward to working with Chartwells to upgrade our facilities and to bring a major franchise to our community, all while keeping students’ food cost for the upcoming academic year at this year’s level.”

Chartwells has also committed to retaining the current 63 food service and conference and events staff currently working at the college for current contractor, Sodexo. 

Site work for the Chick-fil-A will begin prior to July 1, with a target for the restaurant to open this fall.  Chartwells will be making extensive changes to all of the College’s food service locations - Connerton’s and Marketplace located in the Sheehy Farmer Campus Center, the Susquehanna Room located in the Administration Building, and Leo’s on Mane, located in O’Hara Hall at the corner of N. Main and W. North streets.

Kevin Lyden, Chartwells’ regional vice president commented, “We are enthusiastic over the welcome we received from King’s College administration and honored to be chosen to manage dining operations.  We will deliver a high quality food service program for the students, staff and Wilkes-Barre community that provides value, convenience and service they can be proud of.”

Chartwells is a recognized leader in contract foodservice management, hospitality and award-winning guest service within 270 college and university dining environments throughout academic institutions across the U.S.  The company is a division of Charlotte, NC-based Compass Group.