Chick-Fil-A Death Star to Open Near Herald Square on October 3

Liberally-maligned chain Chick-fil-A is finally making good on its promises to bring its crispy chicken sandwiches to NYC. The chain, which said it would open in NYC last year, released a date for its official arrival today: October 3. Technically, this isn't the first location in the city. There's one at NYU, but it's largely inaccessible to those outside of the university system.

The new location — at 37th and Sixth — will be big, with 10 check out registers on the first floor and seating for 80 upstairs, with one floor used for prep and storage. There are also plans for delivery and catering, and as is customary with Chick-fil-A, the store will be closed on Sundays.  As you may recall, the company's president and CEO Dan Cathy is fiercely religious and openly against gay marriage.

The city's second location — near Rockefeller Center at 46th and 6th — will follow, but it's not entirely clear exactly when that one will land. By waiting a year to open the first location, Chick-fil-A will be entering into a much more competitive fried chicken sandwich environment thanks to Fuku and Delaney Chicken, which should open sometime next month in the new Vanderbilt Market, but the brand has its loyal customers, so expect the outposts to be busy.

Meanwhile, check out franchisee Oscar Fittipaldi, who seems pretty stoked about his NYC expansion: