Thurston County is set to get its first Chick-Fil-A and potentially lose a longtime business in the process.

A Lacey official confirmed Monday that a land-use application for both a Chick-Fil-A and a Taco Bell were submitted to the city in March. Now, the city is getting close to approving that plan, senior planner Sarah Schelling said Monday.

Although it would be the first Chick-Fil-A in Thurston County, it would not be the first Taco Bell. The county is already home to three in Lacey, one in Olympia and one in Tumwater, according to its website.

Click to resize

Both restaurants have been proposed at 8306 Quinault Drive NE, which is near Marvin Road at Interstate 5.

According to city information, the nearly 5,000-square-foot Chick-Fil-A is set to occupy the west side of the lot, close to Marvin Road, while a nearly 3,000-square-foot Taco Bell will be built on the east side of the lot. Building designs include drive-thrus.

The land-use application notes that an existing building on the site will be demolished. That would appear to be the longtime Hawks Prairie Restaurant and Sports Bar. It was not immediately clear Monday if this means the business will close or move. The business has operated at the site since 1978, according to its website.

The Olympian was unable to reach the Hawks Prairie Restaurant owner. A spokeswoman for Atlanta-based Chick-Fil-A also did not reply with more information about the future Lacey location.

Chick-Fil-A is expanding in Washington state. Recent openings include in Tacoma, Puyallup and Lakewood, The News Tribune reported.

According to its website, Chick-Fil-A operates more than 2,100 locations throughout the country. It is closed Sundays.

“Having worked seven days a week in restaurants open 24 hours, (founder) Truett (Cathy) saw the importance of closing on Sundays so that he and his employees could set aside one day to rest and worship if they choose - a practice we uphold today,” the company website reads.

The company also is viewed as controversial for donations it has made to groups opposed to same-sex marriage, according to Business Insider.