By Marie Gilmore
It has been a busy 15 years for the Holmberg family. When they moved to the area 15 years ago to run the Lake Brandon Village Chick-fil-A store, there wasn’t much around. Parking lots and fields stood where the Lowe’s is now and few apartments were built. But, the area was prime for construction and the store has grown right along with the community.
With four children, all grown up and some married with children of their own, the family established the first store in the area. “We moved from a mall location in Racine, Wisconsin,” describes owner, Paul Holmberg. “We just hit the ground running and never looked back.”
Tammy has been the marketing arm and community advocate on behalf of the store. With school and student of the month donations and auction raffle prizes, Chick-fil-A Lake Brandon Village has been a generous supporter of the community and children’s causes for years.
And now, after a successful 15 years, the store will be undergoing a facelift with new construction and renovation of floors, kitchen, dining room, play area etc. A grand re-opening is planned for May 30. The store closes May 3-May 30.
The Holmbergs have received significant community awards including, most recently, the S.L. “Spud” Clements Award recognizing successful Brandon business people at the annual dinner for Center Place. In addition, the couple has received the Alice B. Tompkins Community Service Award from the Community Roundtable of Brandon; the Key Citizen Award, granted by the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce; and the Laurie Ellis Community Advocate Award, granted by the YMCA.
In a year of big news, the Holmbergs also recently became grandparents for the first time to grandson Micah, and took over ownership of Chick-fil-A Westfield Brandon Mall to become the second location for the family.
With the renovation of their flagship store, they will be ready for the next 15 years to keep growing strong.
Chick-fil-A Westfield Brandon will remain open. For more information, find Chick-fil-A Brandon on Facebook or call Lake Brandon Village at 655-1237 or Westfield Mall at 654-6769.
