---
title: "Zaxbys has expanded to New York City"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/0d2b6067-3fdb-4662-b0ce-9c4b1bc46bd9
source: "Nation's Restaurant News"
original_url: https://www.nrn.com/fast-casual/zaxbys-has-expanded-to-new-york-city
author: "Alicia Kelso"
category: "Chicken"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Chicken"
published: 2026-07-14T16:23:41.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T13:17:22.887Z
image: https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/bltea7aee2fca050a19/blt4455320cc1fbf021/6a5662c90f74354ceaadba5b/Zaxbys-Menu-Items.jpg?width=720&quality=80&disable=upscale
---

# Zaxbys has expanded to New York City

**TL;DR:** Zaxby's has expanded to New York City with its first location in the Bronx and a second location to open in Manhattan. The chain aims to open over 60 new restaurants this year, targeting 100 new stores annually in the long term.

*By Alicia Kelso, originally published in Nation's Restaurant News on 2026-07-14. [Read the original](https://www.nrn.com/fast-casual/zaxbys-has-expanded-to-new-york-city).*

## Story

Atlanta-based Zaxbys has opened its first location in New York City, in the Bronx. A second restaurant will open “later this summer” in Manhattan.

This marks the 24th state for the fast-casual chicken chain as it targets more than 60 new restaurant openings this year, supported by new formats. Zaxbys, which recently surpassed the 1,000-unit milestone, has a long-term goal of opening 100 new stores annually.

"New York is one of the most influential food cities in the world, and we're incredibly proud to introduce Zaxbys to this market," CEO Bernard Acoca said in a statement. "Opening our first two restaurants in New York this summer marks an exciting milestone in our growth journey and a significant chapter in our expansion across the Northeast. Whether it's Southern transplants looking for a taste of home or New Yorkers discovering our Chicken Fingerz and signature sauces for the first time, we're excited to share the Southern hospitality and bold flavor experiences that have made Zaxbys a fan favorite for more than 35 years."

The Bronx location is approximately 2,000 square feet with seating for 15 guests and offering both dine-in and drive-thru service. Zaxbys will open its second New York restaurant in Manhattan's Upper East Side at 1267 First Avenue. The 2,800-plus square-foot restaurant will feature 16 dine-in seats, the brand's modern farmhouse-inspired design, and self-service ordering kiosks.

To celebrate its New York debut, Zaxbys will host a series of events throughout the city this summer designed to build brand awareness.

Zaxbys finished 2025 with $2.5 billion in sales, marking a 5.2% year-over-year increase. Its unit count growth was nearly 4%, bolstered by over $2.8 million average unit volumes, according to Technomic.

## Entities

- unit expansion (topic)
- QSR (sector)
- fast casual (topic)
- Nation's Restaurant News (publication)
- new york (location)
- Atlanta (location)
- restaurant growth (topic)
- Zaxby's (company)
- new locations (topic)
- Alicia Kelso (person)
- Bernard Acoca (person)
- Manhattan (location)

---
Originally reported by Alicia Kelso, Nation's Restaurant News (https://www.nrn.com/fast-casual/zaxbys-has-expanded-to-new-york-city). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/0d2b6067-3fdb-4662-b0ce-9c4b1bc46bd9).