ABOUT Chick-fil-a MANDARIN

MEET THE OPERATOR

 Eric Gillis, Operator

Eric Gillis has called Mandarin home since the late 1980’s, when his family moved to the area while he was in elementary school. He is a proud alumni of Mandarin schools such as Loretto Elementary, Mandarin Middle School, and Mandarin High School. After high school, Eric attended the University of North Florida where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Management. Eric has been part of the Chick-fil-A family since 2006 when he started a part time job with Chick-fil-A as a team member at the St Johns Town Center location in Jacksonville. He fell in love with the company and began chasing a dream to become a franchise owner. In 2011, Eric was selected as a Chick-fil-A franchise owner, chosen to Operate the Parkway Place Mall location in Huntsville, AL. In 2015, Eric and his family were able to return to his hometown community and open the Chick-fil-A Mandarin restaurant where he continues to serve today. In 2024, Eric opened his second location, Chick-fil-A South Mandarin. Regarding operating the Chick-fil-A restaurants in Mandarin, “It is a great joy and honor to be able to operate the Chick-fil-A in my hometown, a privilege that I thank God for every day,” said Eric. “I get to raise my kids in this community that I love, and hopefully my team and I will be a light to our community through the way we operate this business. I am thankful for the many guests who regularly visit our restaurant, and for the team of people around me that works hard every day to care for them.” Eric, his wife Naomi, and their five children reside in the Mandarin community.