Southern Classic Chicken Sets Sights on Texas for Expansion

“We wanted to focus our expansion efforts on Dallas first because it is the closest and largest metropolitan area to our home base in Shreveport, so we will be able to easily provide support to these locations,” said Nick Binnings, Director of Brand Development for Southern Classic Chicken. “Since we have two locations in Texas already, we are excited to be bringing our comfort food to even more residents in the Dallas area.”

Tom O’Keefe, Managing Director, expects that the Dallas area could hold up to 20 Southern Classic Chicken franchises, and potentially an additional 15-20 locations as the brand continues to expand. With that in mind, the brand is looking for franchisees who have restaurant management experience that align with the family-focused culture. However, the priority is growing at a comfortable pace to ensure that the franchisees are a perfect fit for the brand.

“We have had a successful 2020 with a 20% increase in system-wide sales in drive-thru alone and we are hoping to bring that success to the Dallas area as well,” said O’Keefe. “Southern Classic Chicken’s drive-thru and walk-up models have contributed greatly to our success, and we believe these models are attractive to those looking to get into the restaurant franchise space during this time.”

The brand’s walk-up and drive-thru restaurant model has fared particularly well during the pandemic because customers have the opportunity to receive a high-quality meal in a quick and safe manner. Not only is this beneficial for the customer, but for the restaurant owner as well, who does not have to worry about keeping dining areas clean or limiting contact inside the restaurant.

Binnings and O’Keefe are spearheading this expansion effort with a combined experience of over 50 years in the restaurant operations and franchising space. Binnings held an executive position at Another Broken Egg Café while O’Keefe has held executive positions at Popeye’s/Church’s Chicken and Smoothie King, among others. Binnings and O’Keefe have now joined forces to help Southern Classic Chicken grow because of its culture, quality and incredible value.

Southern Classic Chicken serves up home-style fried chicken made with a proprietary marinade and batter complemented by fresh side offerings inspired by its southern roots. The family-focused brand is well-known across Northern Louisiana for its fried chicken and value pricing where an average meal ranges from $5-7. Sourcing the freshest ingredients and products possible is the top priority so the brand can provide the “absolute best” to its customers at a better price point and value than competitors.