More fast food and more chicken on the way.

http://www.zaxbys.com/home.aspx




Not balking at expansion: Zaxby’s plans 28 chicken restaurants in OKC area
By: Molly M. Fleming The Journal Record December 3, 2014 0

OKLAHOMA CITY – Georgia-based franchisee Sterling Coleman has signed Zaxby’s largest single agreement, which will bring 28 fast casual chicken restaurants to the Oklahoma City metro area over the next five to seven years.

“We’ve been looking at that market for quite some time,” said Robert Baxley, chief operating officer of the Athens, Georgia-based company. “We felt like it was an important market for us. We were very fortunate to attract the interest of Sterling Coleman.”

Coleman has been with Zaxby’s in Georgia for 11 years, with stores in Cobb, Clayton and Fulton counties, near Atlanta. Zaxby’s offers prepared-at-order chicken fingers, wings, sandwiches, salads, appetizers and nine different sauces, ranging in spiciness from wimpy to nuclear and insane.

“For me to be able to expand and grow the way I want to with this brand, I have to figure out what state I want to go into,” Coleman said. “I looked at some of the faster-growing cities in the Midwest and I thought that Oklahoma City would be a great place to come and do business in the quick-service market.”

Coleman has purchased a former Long John Silver’s property at 1839 W. Main St. in Norman, and will demolish the building to construct a new restaurant. The store is expected to open in summer 2015. The Oklahoma stores will be among the company’s first with its new farmhouse design concept.

Coleman plans to build three to four stores in 2015, four to five stores in 2016, and complete his expansion in several years.

“The goal is to get 28 up in six years,” he said. “Five years would be even better.”

He said he likes to build his stores from the ground up, though he has renovated an existing restaurant.

In the last few years, Oklahoma has seen Raising Cane’s expand in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Broken Arrow, and Owasso. Coleman said the two companies often exist in the same market, and there’s room for both. Zaxby’s is not a stranger to being in the same market as a quick-service chicken restaurant chain, sharing a home state with Chick-Fil-A.

“If there’s a good chicken market, we feel like we could play or do well in those markets,” Coleman said. “We feel like we’ll really come in and make a big splash.”

Baxley said his company does not compete directly with Cane’s; rather, they complement each other.

“There’s room for everybody,” he said. “We have more variety. It opens us up to a larger demographic when people can have a lot of options. We have a broader customer base and a broad catering menu.”

Nationwide, Zaxby’s is expanding west as it approaches its 25th anniversary. It started its expansion in 2007 in Texas, and then into Utah, where it has four locations. The company has more than 600 stores, owning and operating 20 percent, with the rest operated by franchisees.

The Norman store won’t be the first Zaxby’s in the state. By December’s end or early January, Ben Williams Sr. and his son, Ben Williams Jr. will open their Tulsa store, 6995 S. Mingo Rd.

This is good news. I ate Zaxby's quite frequently when I lived in Charlotte. It will be good to have them here. I prefer them to Chick Fil-A.

People in Norman swear by Cane's. I always tell them Zaxby's is better. Now they can try it for themselves.

Zaxby's sauce is the best thing ever! Glad they are finally coming to OKC!

this is great news, the SEC is taking over Big 12 country lol ;)

Well this is beyond exciting! One of the things I missed about not being in SC!

If it's better than Chic-Fil-A, then I'll be happy cause it'll be open on Sundays.

I don't care for Cains ( chicken has no flavor ) and I don't eat Chic-fil-a so this is good news.. look forward to trying it.

Zaxbys has announced their coming to Oklahoma. Looks like Norman is slated to receive one. Zaxbys is the king if chicken fingers in the southeast and will easily give Caines and Chick Fila a good run.

Zaxby?s Lands in Oklahoma - Restaurant News - QSR magazine (http://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/zaxby-s-lands-oklahoma)

I saw that Zaxbys has announced to finally break into the Oklahoma market. If you're not aware of Zaxbys... take Caines and make it a billion times better :)

Anyone have any insight if Moore is slated to receive one? I saw Norman and Midwest City are getting one.

Zaxby?s Lands in Oklahoma - Restaurant News - QSR magazine (http://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/zaxby-s-lands-oklahoma)

With 28 locations, I'm sure Moore will get at least one or two.

Plans for Norman location are out for bid to General Contractors. I would estimate mid to late summer opening time frame

I saw that Zaxbys has announced to finally break into the Oklahoma market.They are already in the Oklahoma market. They have a location in Tulsa.

On my way to work this morning I noticed a new building popping up on the old site of either the former car wash or former Long John Silver's on Main St. with a sign said it will be a Zaxby's. My first thought was, "Sweet, new place to eat", Second thought, "Geez, another fast food chicken restaurant with an orange colored sauce"

edit-- My bad, didn't realize there was a thread on Zaxby's in the Restaurant forum.

for me Cane's is a bad knock off of zaxbys.. Zaxbys chicken actually has flavor.. I can't stand Canes as the chicken is fresh but has no seasoning.
I look forward to Zaxbys being closer to me!

Just filed a building permit application for 6017 W. Reno:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/zaxbys.jpg

West Reno location is bidding for General Contractors next week. For the Oklahoma City fans out there should be complete late summer / early fall time frame.

I hope Zaxby's is as good as you say it is. If so I can add it to my Norman rotation. How does it compare to Golden Chick? I ate at the GC in Gainesville last summer and really enjoyed it.

OKCTalk - Zaxby's coming to NW 25th & Penn (http://www.okctalk.com/content/175-zaxby-s-coming-nw-25th-penn.html)

I'm sure they'll be pleased to meet their new neighbors.

http://http://newsok.com/article/5420264?slideout=1 (http://newsok.com/article/5420264?slideout=1)

Just looked over their menu online, it does have a lot more than Canes. Looks pretty tasty.

I want signs in the area noting everything between 24th and 26th, from Penn to Villa, as the "Fried Chicken District."

Interesting that the Pizza House building stays. I can't think of another fast food chain that has built without fronting a major road.

Glad this location is being added. I don't care for Cains as it really has no seasoning, but I love Zaxbys!. we usually eat golden chick on 23rd if we are in the mood for chicken but its hit or miss. not sad to see that apartment building go away either as it has been a problem for a while.

Glad this location is being added. I don't care for Cains as it really has no seasoning, but I love Zaxbys!. we usually eat golden chick on 23rd if we are in the mood for chicken but its hit or miss. not sad to see that apartment building go away either as it has been a problem for a while.

Apartment building is not going away.

I want signs in the area noting everything between 24th and 26th, from Penn to Villa, as the "Fried Chicken District."

Yes!

Chicken Row? Deep Chicken? Chicken Alley? Chicktown? The Chick? Chicken Hill?

And then Gatewood could be renamed SoCA (south of Chicken Alley).

Apartment building is not going away.

Currently, the site is home to a two-story apartment building. An existing 2-story building on the southeast corner of 25th and Penn is not a part of these plans.

SOOOO are they building it ABOVE the existing 2 story building? I believe the apartment building is going away.

Currently, the site is home to a two-story apartment building. An existing 2-story building on the southeast corner of 25th and Penn is not a part of these plans.

SOOOO are they building it ABOVE the existing 2 story building? I believe the apartment building is going away.

My bad…I was thinking of the Pizza House Building.

LOL SoCA.

But yeah, now we just need a Popeye's and a CFA on that block...


But considering the flooding nature of this area rather than "hill", "valley" might be more appropriate...

Looks like Planning commission denied the Zaxbys on 25th and Penn. I wonder what tweeks they need to make it work.

Is this better than Cains'? Different?

MUCH better than Cains. .I don't care for Cains as the chicken has no seasoning. Zaxbys is similar concept with basically same sauce of Cains.. been around a bit longer I think Cains may have drawn inspiration from Zaxbys for their concept but didn't deliver the flavor in my opinion.

MUCH better than Cains. .I don't care for Cains as the chicken has no seasoning. Zaxbys is similar concept with basically same sauce of Cains.. been around a bit longer I think Cains may have drawn inspiration from Zaxbys for their concept but didn't deliver the flavor in my opinion.

I'll check it out. The one in Norman is a short drive from me. Almost done it looks like as well.

Yes!

Chicken Row? Deep Chicken? Chicken Alley? Chicktown? The Chick? Chicken Hill?

And then Gatewood could be renamed SoCA (south of Chicken Alley).

For a brief, glorius moment within the past few weeks there was a Twitter handle for this area called @ChickenDistrict. But apparently whoever started it thought better of it; it's gone now.

For a brief, glorius moment within the past few weeks there was a Twitter handle for this area called @ChickenDistrict. But apparently whoever started it thought better of it; it's gone now.

Let me guess, someone thought it was racist?

They were second to the party. @ChickenStripOKC is still up.

Ah, I'll check it out. Too bad about the handle. Chicken District is a funnier (and more topical) name, despite Chicken Strip's clever play on words.

I'm relatively sure the idea to call it the chicken district was immediately squashed by our insect overlords just in case someone might think being in the chicken district meant you could keep chickens in the city limits!

Looks like site prep on this location has started. Lot has been cleared and leveled. Doubt this will take as long to build as the Golden Chick at I40 and Mustang Rd.

I talked to the Zaxbys guys yesterday. They officially open in Norman on Monday. 63rd & MacArthur starts construction next week and 25th & Penn to follow right behind that store. I am going to their VIP event this weekend and am looking forward to giving it a try.

Drove by Zaxby's in Norman right AFTER lunch today. Open and busy.

I blew it. Stopped by today after church and was politely asked for an invitation. They do open tomorrow. The young gentleman who was at the door (the trainer) gave us a card for a free meal. On closer inspection it looks like the "free meal" deal is after I purchase seven meals. It would have been nice if he'd punched one of the meals. I sure hope the food lives up to the reputation it has here on line. That'll have to be some pretty darn good bird.

I talked to the Zaxbys guys yesterday. They officially open in Norman on Monday. 63rd & MacArthur starts construction next week and 25th & Penn to follow right behind that store. I am going to their VIP event this weekend and am looking forward to giving it a try.

63rd & Mac will be my location... BTW, does anyone remember a place called Golden Skillet from back in the early 80s? I remember that being some good stuff.

I went to the Zaxby,s vip event yesterday. The food is amazing. There were 5 of us and some ate they healthy salads. I had the hot wings and traditional dinner. Everyone thought that it was great. The place is very nicely done (not cheap). Their CFO mentioned that he thought Reno & MacArthur was next. I am going to have to check on that. With 28 locations planned there should be one near by just about everywhere though.

Norman officially opens today though.

They are coming to the vacant lot on the southwest corner of NW 122nd & Rockwell.

On my way to work this morning I noticed a new building popping up on the old site of either the former car wash or former Long John Silver's on Main St. with a sign said it will be a Zaxby's. My first thought was, "Sweet, new place to eat", Second thought, "Geez, another fast food chicken restaurant with an orange colored sauce"

Orange sauce. How long before Zaxby's opens in Stillwater?

Hmm, never heard of this place. May have to try it out sometime. I can always eat fried chicken.

They are coming to the vacant lot on the southwest corner of NW 122nd & Rockwell.

There's an Auto Zone currently under construction on the southwest corner of this intersection. Will Zaxby's go to the south of Auto Zone or to the west?

South of AutoZone.

So I tried Zaxby's tonight in Norman and wasn't overly impressed, though it wasn't terrible. The food had much less flavor to me than Cane's and I find Canes' sauce to be definitely better. I think the breading on Zaxby's was a bit overwhelming yet not overly flavorful on its own. Even the seasoning on the fries didn't do it for me. Didn't like the cole slaw at all. I also thought $10 for a tenders plate w/ fries and toast and a drink was a little steeper than I expected. Definitely prefer Cane's and don't really get the hype, but to each his own. I'd eat there again, just wouldn't go out of my way.

I'll look into trying it this weekend.

So I tried Zaxby's tonight in Norman and wasn't overly impressed, though it wasn't terrible. The food had much less flavor to me than Cane's and I find Canes' sauce to be definitely better. I think the breading on Zaxby's was a bit overwhelming yet not overly flavorful on its own. Even the seasoning on the fries didn't do it for me. Didn't like the cole slaw at all. I also thought $10 for a tenders plate w/ fries and toast and a drink was a little steeper than I expected. Definitely prefer Cane's and don't really get the hype, but to each his own. I'd eat there again, just wouldn't go out of my way.

we have exact separate takes..lol.. I think Cains has no flavor at all.. and like the seasoning on Zaxbys..haha

we have exact separate takes..lol.. I think Cains has no flavor at all.. and like the seasoning on Zaxbys..haha

I'm with you on this one, Bullbear. For what you're getting at these basic chicken places, I think Zaxby's is way better than Cane's--fresher, more flavorful, more interesting environment. I'm afraid for Cane's in fact, that most people will probably feel the same way.

That'd be interesting for Cane's if true. They exploded in a bunch of other areas recently.

we have exact separate takes..lol.. I think Cains has no flavor at all.. and like the seasoning on Zaxbys..haha

I like Cane's and will continue to go there, but this is also my take and for those reasons I prefer Zaxby's.

Never had Zaxby's but agree 100% about Cane's being flavorless.

I've yet to try Zaxby's, but will definitely do so if I happen to be near one when I'm hungry. Cain's is just "alright". With the sauce, I'm okay with Cain's, without the sauce...meh.

The market for chicken-centric restaraunts in OKC seems to be heating up. There are a ton of chicken places around town to choose from.
KFC
Popeye's
Cain's
Zaxby's
Church's
Chik-fil-a
Golden Chick
Slim Chickens
Chicken Express

I've ate at the new Norman location twice, good food, horible service.

went today and it wasn't bad. chicken strips had good flavor. chicken wings were just ok... good for fast food, though. i'll agree that the service isn't quite with the program yet... it's not that they were rude/uncaring, just untrained. i think the chain will be a good addition to the metro area but i probably won't go out of my way to eat there. -M

I've yet to try Zaxby's, but will definitely do so if I happen to be near one when I'm hungry. Cain's is just "alright". With the sauce, I'm okay with Cain's, without the sauce...meh.

The market for chicken-centric restaraunts in OKC seems to be heating up. There are a ton of chicken places around town to choose from.
KFC
Popeye's
Cain's
Zaxby's
Church's
Chik-fil-a
Golden Chick
Slim Chickens
Chicken Express

Is Slim Chickens still open somewhere?

Is Slim Chickens still open somewhere?

A Slim Chickens just opened last week on NW Expressway near MacArthur.