At a time when customers are battling over their preferred chicken sandwiches (Fans choose sides in ‘Chicken Sandwich War’), a local couple is serving up chicken salad restaurants.
Husband and wife duo Meggie and John Schissler will open a new Chicken Salad Chick restaurant in Burleson on Tuesday, Sept 24. The Burleson location at 264 John Jones Drive will be the couple’s third venture with the Alabama-based restaurant chain.
The Schisslers opened their first Chicken Salad Chick restaurant in 2016 Fort Worth, signaling the southern-inspired, fast-casual restaurant’s entrance to the Texas market.
Working under the company name J&M Hospitality, the Schisslers plan to open five more Chicken Salad Chick restaurants in the Fort Worth area within the next couple of years. One is potentially slated to open in downtown Fort Worth at the start of 2020.
“We weren’t really sure what to expect because we were the very first ones in Texas, but it has been received very well,” Meggie Schissler said. “We spend a lot of time in each of our restaurants and we want to be a part of the community. It feels like a local restaurant. So, when we saw that we were really excited to expand to all the different neighborhoods and communities.”
Currently, there are about 10 Chicken Salad Chick locations in Texas and more than 130 locations across the nation.
The chicken salad restaurant concept offers 13 original chicken salad flavors – from traditional to fruity to spicy. The restaurant also serves side salads, gourmet soups, signature sandwiches and freshly baked desserts.
“It’s a very simple, but bright concept. You can just tell the difference when you walk into one of the restaurants. It feels like you’re at someone’s home,” Meggie Schissler said. “It’s very wholesome southern hospitality. And the custom-fit chicken salad experience is so unique.”
Chicken Salad Chick founder Stacy Brown, then a stay-at-home mom, established the restaurant concept in 2008 after her family, neighbors and friends complimented her chicken salad recipes and encouraged her to serve more people.
Brown even named all the chicken salad menu options after real-life female friends and neighbors who inspired and supported her. Some of the offerings: “Classic Carol,” “Sassy Scotty,” “Barbie-Q” and “Fancy Nancy.”
“It’s really all ages. But a lot of times, there’s a lot of females that come in first because just traditionally the females like chicken salad,” Meggie Schissler said. “But our food is so good, we make it all from scratch. So once the men come in with the girls, they’ll usually come back by themselves.”
The Burleson restaurant’s grand opening follows a week of special giveaways to customers. The very first guest to visit the restaurant Sept. 24 will receive one large “Quick Chick” chicken salad per week for an entire year; the next 99 guests receive a free large “Quick Chick” chicken salad per month.