Corey Pendray, Owner/Operator

South Gate
At Chick-fil-A South Gate, Corey Pendray is building more than a restaurant—he is building a culture where people grow, lead, and pursue their full potential. Corey is a relational, high-standards leader who believes the most important investment in any Chick-fil-A restaurant is people. Two years into leading his restaurant, he speaks with deep passion about his team, their growth, and the culture they are building together. His leadership is rooted in intentionality—refusing to settle for average and instead pursuing team members who embody hospitality, humility, and genuine care for others. He values relationships, long-term development, and creating opportunities for people to succeed. Whether mentoring leaders, celebrating team progress, or personally conducting final interviews, Corey stays closely connected to the heart of the business: developing remarkable people.
Career Highlights
2010
As a high school senior, Corey began his Chick-fil-A journey as a Team Member at Chick-fil-A Brea Plaza
2011 – 2016
Served in a variety of leadership roles while pursuing his Bachelor’s Degree in Business
2017
Accepted into Chick-fil-A’s Leadership Development Program
2017 – 2020
Traveled around the country supporting the opening of new Chick-fil-A restaurants and operating company-owned locations
2022
Selected as the Owner/Operator of Chick-fil-A South Gate. 2024 – Grand Opening of Chick-fil-A South Gate.
2026
Celebrates two years as Operator while leading a team of more than 100 employees with a culture centered on excellence, intentional development, and genuine care
Chick-fil-A Story

The vision of Chick-fil-A South Gate is “To be the best we can be.” Corey is deeply passionate about continuous improvement and believes the skills learned as a Chick-fil-A Team Member can prepare individuals for success in any future career. His mission is to cultivate excellence, professionalism, and genuine care within his team while encouraging and equipping them to pursue their full potential. By building this kind of culture, he believes guests will consistently experience remarkable service and become raving fans of the restaurant. Corey is also passionate about creating opportunities and developing future leaders. Through education partnerships, tuition support, and mentorship, he is committed to helping team members grow both inside and beyond the restaurant—equipping them for lifelong success as they pursue the best version of themselves.

Vision and Values

The vision of Chick-fil-A South Gate is “To be the best we can be.”

Corey is deeply passionate about continuous improvement and believes the skills learned as a Chick-fil-A Team Member can prepare individuals for success in any future career.

His mission is to cultivate excellence, professionalism, and genuine care within his team while encouraging and equipping them to pursue their full potential. By building this kind of culture, he believes guests will consistently experience remarkable service and become raving fans of the restaurant.

Corey is also passionate about creating opportunities and developing future leaders. Through education partnerships, tuition support, and mentorship, he is committed to helping team members grow both inside and beyond the restaurant—equipping them for lifelong success as they pursue the best version of themselves.

Chick-fil-A South Gate’s Commitment to People

From the earliest stages of preparing to open Chick-fil-A South Gate, Corey has been focused on building an exceptional team and continually challenging that team to grow.

Today, he leads a team of more than 100 people with strong retention. However, his greatest challenge isn’t simply keeping team members—it’s continually raising the standard by finding the next generation of leaders who can elevate hospitality, performance, and culture.

His strategy is intentional: recruit exceptional talent, invest deeply in development, and continually refine the hiring process so leaders can spend more time with candidates who embody the restaurant’s core values and demonstrate a passion for continuous improvement.

This disciplined, people-first approach reflects Chick-fil-A’s long-standing commitment to excellence through leadership and culture.

Career Opportunities