Chick-fil-L.A.

The Long Beach Press Telegram is reporting (via LA Biz Observed) that chicken chain Chick-fil-A is preparing a big push into California.

Locally, Chick-fil-A already has locations in Redondo Beach (at the South Bay Galleria), Cerritos (the Los Cerritos Center), Torrance (Del Amo Fashion Center) and Long Beach (a free-standing building on Carson St.), as well as several locations in Orange County and the Inland Empire.

But the chain -- famous for its Closed-on-Sunday policy -- is now eyeing a much bigger presence:

(President/COO Dan)Cathy told the group about the chain's aggressive expansion plans for California, and he said to expect another dozen locations to open in the state by the end of 2007.

"We know that in the state of California, there's a potential to double the size of our company," he said. "We're very bullish on California."

Of the company's 1,253 locations, fewer than 20 are in California, according to company estimates.

Based on sales, Chick-fil-A is the second-largest quick-service chicken restaurant chain in the United States and credits itself with being the first to introduce chicken nuggets into the eating lexicon.