Yahoo Finance Another LA chicken chain restaurant moves east to Charlotte to face crowded competition
A West Coast chicken chain’s expansion to the East Coast will spread more heat in Charlotte, home of the iconic chicken-and-biscuit chain Bojangles.
Los Angeles-based The Red Chickz plans to open 10 stores in North Carolina, including four in the Charlotte area. The plan also includes four stores in the Raleigh area.
The Red Chickz is eyeing areas such as South End, Plaza Midwood, Noda or Ballantyne, franchise owner Kamran Awan said, but is “open to all areas of Charlotte.” He hopes to open the first store by the end of next year.
The fast-growing, fast-casual chain serves crunchy Nashville-style hot chicken.
The Red Chickz is stepping into a fiery competition of chicken chains in Charlotte, just as Bojangles expands West to Los Angeles. Just two months ago, the Wichita, Kansas, chain Chick N Max said it will open eight to 10 restaurants in the Charlotte metro area over the next few years.
New $58M Chick-fil-A supply and distribution center near Charlotte to bring over 110 jobs
Atlanta’s Chick-fil-A also has been opening restaurants in the area, and will debut a $58 million distribution center near Charlotte this year.
Other recent expansions include Arkansas-based Slim Chickens ,with four store openings in two years and another LA-based chain serving Nashville-style chicken, Dave’s Hot Chicken. Dave’s has opened two stores since its September 2022 debut.
North Carolina’s economic growth makes it ideal for expanding, The Red Chickz co-founder and CEO Shawn Lalehzarian said in a statement. North Carolina ranked among the top ten states “moving the U.S. economy forward,” according to a Wallethub study released in June.
Awan is familiar with Charlotte. He’s the founder and CEO of Greensboro-based Mega Hotel Management, which owns 10 hotels, two real estate offices, a Vitamin Shoppe franchise and a jewelry store. He also owns five restaurants, including Cookie Plug and The Halal Guys.
What to expect on the menu
The Red Chickz menu features items like Nashville Hot Chicken sandwiches in six spice levels.
Other items include honey butte and French toast sandwiches, tacos, and cauliflower. Sides run from fries to cheese curds and corn ribs.
About The Red Chickz
The first The Red Chickz store opened in 2018.
The Red Chickz has three California locations in Los Angeles, Culver City and Carlsbad, and one store in Cypress, Texas.
The company began franchising in 2021 and has 24 locations in development.
