Zaxby's to Open First NYC Location
The chicken restaurant chain Zaxby's will open its first location in New York City on the Upper East Side. The restaurant will be located at 1267 First Avenue. This marks the chain's official entry into the competitive New York market.
- Zaxby's was founded in March 1990 in Statesboro, Georgia, by childhood friends Zach McLeroy and Tony Townley. McLeroy sold his drum set to help raise the $16,000 needed to open the first location near the Georgia Southern University campus. - The chain is primarily located in the Southern United States and has grown to over 1,000 locations across 22 states. The New York City restaurant is part of a larger expansion into the Northeast, which began with a New Jersey location in December. - Zaxby's menu centers around chicken fingers (spelled "Chicken Fingerz"), chicken wings, sandwiches, and salads (called "Zalads"). Popular sides include crinkle-cut fries, Texas toast, and fried white cheddar bites. - The restaurant is known for its wide array of signature dipping sauces, which range from the milder "Zax Sauce" to the intensely hot "Nuclear" and "Tongue Torch" options. - The company's expansion plans include opening more than 60 new restaurants in 2026, with a long-term goal of 100 new stores annually. - In November 2020, Goldman Sachs acquired a majority stake in the company, a move that led to co-founder Tony Townley's departure. Zach McLeroy remains the chairman. - The new NYC location is part of a competitive trend of chicken chains expanding in the city, joining recent additions like Raising Cane's, Dave's Hot Chicken, and Wingstop. - Zaxby's is introducing a new "Modern Farmhouse" restaurant design for its new locations, which will eventually be rolled out to all existing restaurants.
