Zaxby’s, Georgia’s famous fast-casual, fried chicken restaurant is officially expanding into Illinois, with “several new restaurants” set to open in the Chicago area “within the next year.”
The new restaurants will be part of “multi-unit development agreement with a seasoned local operator,” a press release announcing the news said.
The operator — a Chicago native, who was not named in the release — said they had been looking to bring Zaxby’s to Chicago for more than a decade.
“Chicago is one of the most exciting markets for us right now,” Mike Mettler, Zaxby’s chief development officer said in the release. “This operator has built a scalable restaurant business rooted in operational excellence, team development, and a deep connection to the local community. We’re confident they’re the right partner to introduce Zaxbys to Chicago and successfully grow the brand’s footprint in the region.”
A Zaxby’s spokesperson told NBC Chicago that site selection for the restaurants was currently underway, with some in active development. The spokesperson added that the company is targeting “high-traffic suburbs and urban neighborhoods that align with Zaxby’s target demographic and show strong potential for long-term performance.”
The popular restaurant, known for its signature sauces, “Chicken Fingerz,” toasts, salads, lemonades and iced teas, says the Midwest is a “key expansion area” for Zaxbys in 2025, including in parts of Indiana and Ohio.
Founded in 1990, Zaxby’s, headquartered in Atlanta, has more than 970 locations across 17 states.
