Why did the chicken cross the road? To open a new The Chicken Salad Chick express location.
The Chicken Salad Chick is opening a new location Oct. 12 on South College Street.
"We will be selling full meals and sandwiches, everything we sell here, but no pounds of chicken salad," said Stacy Brown, owner of The Chicken Salad Chick. "It is come by fast and get a fast lunch."
She said all the prices will be the same as well as its gourmet sides, soup, cookies and sandwiches.
The only thing the new double drive-thru location will not sell is chicken salad by the pound.
Another positive aspect to this express location is its extended hours.
It will be open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It will be closed on Sundays.
With the extended hours they are looking to create more of a dinner business.
"As soon as the 'Coming Soon' sign comes down, we are open," Brown said.
They strategically placed the new location on the opposite side of town in order to be more convenient for students.
"Opelika is not a big draw for food," Brown said. "People that come here are on a mission; they are not just driving by."
She said hopefully in the middle of fast food row, people will choose a chicken salad sandwich over a cheeseburger.
Students are looking forward to the new opening so they do not have to wait in line for their lunch.
"I'm really glad they're opening a new location that is on the other side of town," said Meri Kate Purgason, a senior in marketing. "It is going to be really convenient because it's an express drive-thru."
Purgason said she and her roommate will go to The Chicken Salad Chick to pick up dinner, so the new location will make it even more convenient and quicker.
"I love Chicken Salad Chick," said Alyssa Speed, a senior in fashion design. "It reminds me of the chicken salad that my mom makes, and it is delicious. My favorite is Fruity Fran, chicken salad with apples and grapes."
She said she appreciates how helpful the employees are, always offering samples of all the different kinds of chicken salad.
"I am glad the drive-thru will be open later so I can run by and get something for dinner," Speed said.
The Chicken Salad Chick has progressively increased its business since the first day it opened in the Opelika location.
Brown said its first two days open it was completely sold out of chicken salad after being open for only two hours.
Since then it has been a steady climb.
"It is frustrating because people will drive by and keep going because they think we are full because the parking lot is full," Brown said. "But we still have empty tables inside, it looks a lot more congested from the road than it really is."
She said they hate to lose business because they know people are trying to purchase chicken salad.
"They (customers) tell us every day they drive by and can't get into the restaurant," Brown said.
The new drive-thru only location is located in the Winn Dixie parking lot on South College Street in the old Java Jo'z building.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
