New Church’s Chicken opens its doors in Kayenta

Posted by Krista Allen | Apr 21, 2016 | Business |

KAYENTA

Navajo Times | Krista Allen
The grand opening event at Church’s Chicken in Kayenta took place April 17. The new, $1.5 million fast food restaurant is located at the junction of U.S. Highway 160 and U.S. Route 163.

When Brandon Cly’s car broke down, he commuted by Navajo Transit to Church’s Chicken in Chinle where he and several others attended fast food training.

“(Brandon’s) car broke down and he was like, ‘I’m taking the transit,’” said Marcy Smith-Williams, COO at Church’s Chicken in Kayenta. “And he always made it on time. He took the transit back and forth.”

Another individual hitchhiked while others commuted by their own vehicles.

“And they did it,” Smith-Williams said in tears. “They wanted a job so bad that they did it. So I told them, ‘we did it! We didn’t do it just for ourselves, but we did it for our families and to put food on the table.’ I know what they’re going through.”

Cly and 39 other individuals who he attended training with are now employees at the new Church’s Chicken located at the Junction of U.S. Highway 160 and U.S. Route 163, where a grand opening event took place on April 17.

Navajo Times | Krista Allen
Danielle Deschene and Matthew Gray, line cooks at Church’s Chicken, coat uncooked chicken in flour April 17, during the fast food restaurant’s bustling grand opening in Kayenta.

“It’s been a rough several days here trying to get this operational,” said Michael Nelson, owner of the Ace Hardware retailers and the Church’s Chicken franchise across the Navajo Nation. “It was rather hectic, trying to get everything–– the inventory into the (restaurant), getting the employees trained, all of the particulars of opening up a (business).”

But it was enjoyable, said Nelson, a Diné businessman from Window Rock.

“We have a lot of people on hand, but the turnover’s pretty high,” Nelson admitted.