Chick-fil-A submits plans to open at Frantones Pizza site

Chick-fil-A is eyeing the current Frantones Pizza property for a potential new location. (Photo by Alex Dominguez)

DOWNEY - Chick-fil-A has submitted potential plans for a new location at the current Frantones Pizza location, city planning staff have confirmed.

It is currently unknown how far along in the planning process the fast-food chain is with the site, located at 9148 Telegraph Rd. So far, Chick-fil-A has been tight-lipped on the subject.

In an email to the Downey Patriot, a representative from Chick-fil-A said:

“While we hope to have more locations in the Downey area in the future, we cannot confirm a new location at this time.”

Any plans would put the future of Frantones into question.

Currently, Frantones owner Anthony Tesoriero says closure of the Downey mainstay restaurant is not imminent.

According to Tesoriero, the family is exploring “different avenues” for the location’s future, but that nothing was likely to transpire for at least a year. He added that regardless of what happened in Downey, Frantones’s Cerritos location would remain open, and that there was still intention to remain engaged with the community.

Frantones was opened in Downey in 1964 by founder Sleme Tesoriero and his wife Rose, becoming a mainstay in the community.