Chicken Salad Chick owner Josh Patton announced that the restaurant will be moving from its current downtown location to Hixson at the sight of the former Karl’s Restaurant this fall.
The move will allow Mr. Patton to utilize a building that will feature a patio dining area, pick-up window and restaurant with seating for 54 inside and 36 outside. The building exceeds Mr. Patton’s needs with regards to utility infrastructure as the concept utilizes a grease free kitchen with a steamer being the only piece of cooking equipment. He noted that most of the changes at the new site will be cosmetic in nature.
“We’ve loved being downtown and appreciate the support we’ve received from Mesa, our landlord,” said Mr. Patton. “We’re in the process of determining whether we still need a downtown presence. If so, it would mimic the Erlanger commissary model focusing on take-out.”
Over the past six years, Mr. Patton’s franchises have grown to Gunbarrel Road and Erlanger Medical Mall as well as locations in Knoxville and Maryville. He noted that the move to Hixson was not due to the impact of the COVID pandemic. The expiration of his lease gave Mr. Patton the option to consider new opportunities for the growing brand. The new Hixson location will allow him to double the number of employees he currently has.
He also noted that one of the biggest draws to Hixson is parking. “Like so many small businesses, I’ve been concerned about parking. Customers simply won’t pay the parking prices we’re seeing in downtown when there are other options available to them,” he said.
Mr. Patton noted the excitement around the new location. “We’re looking forward to having Chicken Salad Chick readily available to those who now work from home and are looking forward to stepping away from the office for lunch closer to home.”
“I’m excited to be moving into a building that has played such a prominent role in Hixson over the years. We’re looking forward to welcoming new and existing customers as well as groups to their neighborhood Chicken Salad Chick,” said Mr. Patton. “We are continuing to look at other markets such as Fort Oglethorpe and even Signal Mountain for potential locations.”