Midwest chicken sandwich chain expanding to the Carolinas, and eyeing Bojangles turf

A Midwest chicken chain is expanding into the Southeast, looking to ruffle some feathers as it heads to Bojangles hometown of Charlotte and elsewhere in the Carolinas.

Chick N Max, based in Wichita, Kansas, plans to open eight to 10 restaurants with about 250 employees in the Charlotte metro area over the next few years, the fast-casual franchise chain exclusively told The Charlotte Observer.

The chicken sandwich competition in Charlotte has been fierce in recent years, as hometown iconic chain Bojangles battles Atlanta’s Chick-fil-A and recent expansions by Arkansas-based Slim Chickens and West Coast-based Dave’s Hot Chicken.

Despite the competition, Chick N Max says it will bring something new to the market beyond spicy or regular with global flavors.

“We’re aiming to establish a strong presence of our own and capture market share,” said Chick N Max’s Vice President of Franchise Sales and Development Jeff Frahm in a statement.

The Charlotte-area expansion is part of a broader initiative to expand across the Southeast, according to Chick N Max, including other areas in North Carolina including Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham, Winston-Salem and Fayetteville, as well as South Carolina.

Chick N Max hopes to have the first restaurant in the Charlotte-area opened by the end of the year.

The chicken chain is searching for franchisees, as well as partnering with a local investment group to find Charlotte locations, as well as targeting areas such as Kannapolis, Concord and Gastonia.

Chick N Max, a Wichita, Kansas fast-casual franchise specializing in chef-crafted sandwiches, tenders and almond wood-smoked chicken and wings is expanding to the Carolinas including upt to 10 stores in the Charlotte area.

About Chick N Max restaurants

Each Chick N Max restaurant will be about 2,100 square feet with indoor and outdoor seating for up to 80 people, according to the company.

Each restaurant will have a drive-thru, designated curbside pick-up parking spaces, and a take-out counter. Stores also will have digital menu boards and GPS-enabled curbside pick-up through its mobile app.

Chick N Max is looking for free-standing locations and partnerships with colleges, truck stops, gas stations, hospitals and amusement parks.

Midwest chicken chain Chick N Max will open up to 10 stores in the Charlotte metro area.

About the Chick N Max menu

Chick N Max is known for “chef-crafted sandwiches, golden-fried tenders and almond wood-smoked chicken and wings.” Chick N Max has 10 sandwich flavors including:

▪ Loaded Bama with white Bama barbecue sauce, coleslaw and dill pickles.

▪ Smoked chicken BLT with pepper jack cheese, bacon, lettuce and tomato.

▪ Max’s signature sauce and pickles.

▪ Maple bacon sandwich, pulled smoked chicken, chopped bacon, a drizzle of maple syrup, cheddar cheese and mayonnaise on a potato bun.

▪ Sriracha hot honey, hand-breaded tenders, buttermilk garlic sauce, sriracha hot honey, bread, and butter pickles on a brioche bun.

Kansas-based Chick N Max joins the heated fast-food chicken sandwich competition in Charlotte with a menu that includes 10 flavors like fried chipotle chicken and bacon.

Chick N Max’s signature almond-wood smoked chicken also is served as smoked leg quarters, breast quarters, half-birds or smoked wings.

There are 10 sides including fries, onion rings, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes and smoked white beans, and 11 sauces made daily.

The first Chick N Max opened in 2018 in Wichita and now has four locations in Kansas, three in Texas and one in South Dakota.

Charlotte’s chicken competition

Chick N Max joins a hardy chicken competition in Charlotte.

▪ In October, Slim Chickens opened its fourth area store in Concord. The fast-casual chain made its Carolina debut in March 2022 at 5535 Prosperity Ridge Road in University City. The chain rapidly expanded, opening another store in March 2023 in Fort Mill, S.C., followed by a Monroe location in July 2023.

▪ In September, the Southern chicken chain Chick-fil-A said it would open a $58.3 million distribution center in Kannapolis, creating 112 jobs. The facility is expected to open in the third quarter this year with hiring underway. The chain also has been opening or plans to open new stores, including at 8428 University City Blvd., 957 N. Wendover Road, 925 South Point Road in Belmont and 7404 Matthews Mint Hill Road in Mint Hill.

▪ In February 2023, Los Angeles-based chicken chain Dave’s Hot Chicken opened its second Charlotte store at 8932 J.M. Keynes Drive in University City. The chain known for Nashville-style chicken debuted in September 2022 at 1300 The Plaza in Plaza Midwood.

▪ Also in February 2023, Harold’s Chicken & Ice Bar opened on East McCullough Drive. The first Harold’s Chicken Shack restaurant opened 72 years ago in Chicago.

▪ The Charlotte-based iconic chicken-and-biscuit chain Bojangles has been expanding nationally, in Texas and California.