Living Local with Joel Benson

In Episode 26 of Living Local with Frisbee Real Estate, Ed sits down with Joel Benson, the longtime owner-operator of Chick-fil-A in Hendersonville, North Carolina, for a conversation about leadership, community, resilience, and what it takes to build a business that people trust.Joel shares his remarkable Chick-fil-A journey, which started at 16 years old in Tennessee and led him through stores in Colorado, St. Louis, and Nashville before opening the Hendersonville Chick-fil-A in 2001. Now, as Hendersonville Chick-fil-A approaches its 25th anniversary, Joel reflects on why this community became home and why he still loves serving it after more than 30 years with the brand.One of the biggest takeaways from the episode is how unique the Chick-fil-A operator model really is. Joel explains that becoming an operator is highly competitive, often compared to getting into elite universities, and that the process takes years. While operators run their restaurants like owners, Chick-fil-A carefully selects leaders who align with the company’s long-term values and customer-first mission.The conversation also dives into Hurricane Helene and its impact on Hendersonville. Joel shares how one of his Chick-fil-A locations on Spartanburg Highway took on several feet of floodwater, while the other store was left without power for days. On top of that, his own home was heavily affected by landslides and road damage. Despite the devastation, Chick-fil-A corporate sent in major support, helping restore the flooded restaurant and reopen in roughly two weeks, allowing the team to get back to serving first responders, volunteers, and the local community during a critical time.Joel’s story is not just about chicken sandwiches. It’s about servant leadership, faith, team development, and investing in people. He talks about how meaningful it is to help young employees grow, and Ed notes that all three of his children worked at Chick-fil-A and benefited from the experience. For Joel, success is not just measured in sales, but in helping team members become better prepared for life beyond the restaurant.They also talk local favorites around Hendersonville, with Joel recommending:Pie Squared for pizzaBrooks Tavern for burgers and comfort foodPostero for a higher-end mealMountain Deli for downtown lunchOutdoor spots like Bearwallow Mountain, Jump Off Rock, and local agritourism destinations like Grandad’s Apples and Stepp’s Hillcrest OrchardJoel also shares that Chick-fil-A continues rolling out new menu items and seasonal offerings, with mobile app users often getting early access and rewards.If you’re in Hendersonville, NC, you already know Chick-fil-A is a local staple. This episode gives listeners a behind-the-scenes look at the person leading it, and why his commitment to service, excellence, and community has made such a lasting impact.As always, keep living local.