SALINA -Quick-service chicken restaurant chain Chick-fil-A is looking to enter the Salina market early next year.

The Atlanta-based company is preparing to open a Salina store at some point in the 1st Quarter.

“Projections are currently for early 2017,” according to Brenda Morrow, a Public Relations Representative for the company.

The new restaurant will be located near the Salina Central Mall and will create several full and part-time jobs in the Salina market.

The company, which opened its first restaurant in 1946, has nearly 1,900 locations nationwide.