Slim Chickens, a burgeoning casual chicken franchise, is opening a new location on Washington Road in Evans Thursday.
Franchisee Jim Bennett said the decision to plant roots in the CSRA was motivated by his own knowledge of the area as well as its promising development.
“Evans is one of the fastest growing counties in the state,” said Bennett. “We thought it’d mesh well with my familiarity with the Augusta market since I’m local to Augusta, and it just meshes well with the overall growth pattern of the Slim Chickens’ brand.”
Slim Chickens franchises are spreading throughout the Southeast, from the Florida panhandle, eastward from Alabama and southward from Nashville and Charlotte. Bennett recently signed a 12-unit deal spanning from Savannah to Kingsland in Georgia and Columbia and Lexington County in South Carolina.
The franchise’s unique identity partly rooted in its menu, which includes what Bennett calls a “new and improved chicken tender” that isn’t frozen, homemade desserts, chicken and waffles and a wide variety of house sauces.
Bennett notes that people tend to actively follow Slim Chickens’ restaurants rather than see them merely as another convenient fast food or casual dining establishments.
“It’s an exciting brand in particular because it draws a crowd,” said Bennett.
Slim Chickens is a casual dining restaurant. Staff photo by Skyler Q. Andrews Slim Chickens is a casual dining restaurant. Staff photo by Skyler Q. Andrews
The new location recently had a soft opening for friends and family to acclimate the staff, and a grand opening event is planned after about 30 days.
Bennett hopes the exposed locale at the intersection of Belair Road and Washington Road in the former PDQ Restaurant will prove a strong lure that complements for prospective patrons to the restaurant’s distinctive character.
“It’s a great location to get the brand recognition that Slim Chickens needs as it enters a new market,” said Bennett. “So not only would we have a new customer base, but they’ll see the signs, they’ll see the friendly atmosphere, they’ll see the activity around the restaurant that’ll help grow the brand as a whole.”
For more information visit its website at www.slimchickens.com.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering Columbia County with The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
