The addition of Chick-fil-A to some of the state’s rest areas is great six days a week.

Sundays, on the other hand, can be a pain for travelers, according to state Sen. Michelle Hinchey. The Kingston Democrat and chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee recently introduced legislation (S.7794) adding a new section of state law requiring any contracts entered into by the New York State Thruway Authority for the operation of food services at public transportation facilities be provided every day of the week. The requirement would also apply to transportation facilities owned by the New York Port Authority.

In 2021, the Thruway Authority signed a lease with Applegreen, an Irish convenience store chain, to take over leases in all of the Thruway Authority service areas. Applegreen’s portfolio of companies include Chick-fil-A, which by company policy is closed on Sundays. So far seven service areas have changed over to Chick-fil-A.

“While there is nothing objectionable about a fast food restaurant closing on a particular day of the week, service areas dedicated to travelers is an inappropriate location for such a restaurant,” Hinchey wrote in her legislative justification. “Publicly owned service areas should use their space to maximally benefit the public. Allowing for retail space to go unused one seventh of the week or more is a disservice and unnecessary inconvenience to travelers

who rely on these service areas.”

Not all of the service areas will have a Chick-fil-A. According to the Thruway Authority, food options at the 27 service areas will include Shake Shack, Panera, Popeyes, Burger King, Panda Express, Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, Taste NY and Applegreen Convenience Store.

The Eden-Angola service area between Silver Creek and Buffalo is scheduled to reopen in 2025. It will include an Applegreen Market Store, Chick-fil-A, a drive-through Starbucks, Shake Shack, Panda Express, Auntie Anne’s and a Cinnabon. Other services include E-ZPass On-the-go, Public/Family Assist Restrooms, Gas Station with Diesel Fuel, free Wi-Fi, Taste NY food and drink products and Level 3 electric vehicle charging stations.

Not all service areas have that luxury. A service area in offers only two choices in Sundays – Starbucks or prepared foods from Applegreen.

While most service areas will have other offerings when Chick-fil-A is closed, Hinchey wants to maximize options for travelers. Not only would the state Legislature have to approve the bill and Gov. Kathy Hochul sign it into law, approval is also needed by the New Jersey state Legislature.

“This legislation will ensure that all future contracts for food concessions at transportation facilities owned by the Thruway Authority, as well as the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, will be required to operate seven days a week, with an exclusion to temporary concessions such as farmers markets or local vendor,” Hinchey wrote.