The University of Virginia’s College at Wise announced Wednesday that opening a Chick-fil-A Express is the first improvement of a $500,000 investment that Chartwells, the College’s dining company, is making toward food service on campus.

Chartwells will open the Chick-fil-A at no cost to UVa-Wise. The nation’s most popular fast food restaurant would be located in the Slemp Student Center in the space occupied by Mondo’s Subs and Coyote Jack’s. Chartwells is looking at reopening Mondo’s subs in another location on campus.

Joe Kiser, director of college services, said the planned improvements are an example of the partnership between the College and Chartwells, its contracted dining services provider.

“The Chick-fil-A will be, of course, open to the public,” Kiser said. “All our dining facilities are open to the public, and we encourage those from outside campus to use the services Chartwells provides.”

Chartwells operates the Smith Dining Commons, Papa John’s, and Books and Brew, a coffee shop that serves authorized Starbucks products. Mondo’s Subs and Coyote Jack’s are also operated by Chartwells.

Kiser said plans call for construction of the Chick-fil-A to take place at the end of the spring semester so the restaurant could open when the fall semester begins. The Chick-fil-A Express would offer the core menu of the bigger restaurants as well as a Grab and Go option.

Brett Lawson, head of the UVa-Wise Chartwells operations, said the eatery would be open during weekdays and would be open on Saturday. Chick-fil-A would not be open on Sunday, same as other Chick-fil-A’s across the nation.

Lawson said Chartwells would hire more local employees in order to keep up with the increased volume that would come with operating additional dining options. The employees that would work at Chick-fil-A Express would undergo comprehensive training in Atlanta. The training would be conducted under the strict guidance of the Chick-fil-A corporate office in order to ensure quality standards.

“We will be living by their high standards,” Lawson said. “It’s a good move for everybody involved.”