Chicken Salad Chick Plans First Sarasota Restaurant on Fruitville Road
Chicken Salad Chick, the fast-growing restaurant chain known for its made-from-scratch chicken salad recipes and Southern-style menu, is preparing to open its first location in Sarasota.
The new restaurant is planned for 6650 Fruitville Road, Suite 132, Sarasota, Florida 34240, according to a business listing from the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce. The location will be operated by franchise owner Karen Jordan, who already operates Chicken Salad Chick restaurants in Bradenton and Parrish.
An official opening date has not yet been announced. Customers should also keep in mind that construction schedules, inspections and staffing needs can affect restaurant opening timelines.
A Growing Local Presence
Although this will be Chicken Salad Chick’s first restaurant with a Sarasota address, the company is already familiar to many diners in the Sarasota-Manatee region. It joins other chicken-focused concepts serving the area, including Basil’s Chicken in Sarasota.
Jordan opened the Bradenton restaurant at 5434 Lockwood Ridge Road in April 2022. That location operates near the intersection of Lockwood Ridge Road and State Road 70.
A second Manatee County restaurant opened in December 2025 at 8730 U.S. 301 N. in Parrish, inside the Creekside Commons shopping plaza.
The planned Fruitville Road restaurant will give customers east of downtown Sarasota a more convenient option while expanding the brand’s presence along one of the area’s busiest commercial corridors. It follows other first-location arrivals covered by the Suncoast Post, including Newk’s Eatery’s first Sarasota restaurant.
More Than Traditional Chicken Salad
Chicken Salad Chick has built its reputation by offering numerous versions of a familiar Southern favorite.
Its menu typically features more than a dozen chicken salad varieties, ranging from traditional recipes to sweet, savory and spicy combinations. Offerings may include recipes prepared with fruit, pecans, bacon, jalapeños, ranch seasoning or Buffalo-style flavors.
Customers can order chicken salad as a scoop, on a sandwich or as part of a leafy green salad. Larger containers known as Quick Chicks are also sold for takeout, entertaining and family meals.
Popular menu categories include:
- Classic and specialty chicken salads
- Turkey and pimento cheese sandwiches
- Fresh salads and soups
- Broccoli salad, grape salad and pasta salad
- Macaroni and cheese
- Seasonal menu selections
- Desserts and sweet treats
- Catering packages and boxed lunches
Exact menu selections can vary by location and season.
A Restaurant Concept Built Around a Family Recipe
Chicken Salad Chick was founded in Auburn, Alabama, in 2008 by Stacy and Kevin Brown.
The business began after Stacy Brown started preparing chicken salad in her home and selling it throughout the Auburn community. After local health regulations prevented her from continuing to sell food produced in a residential kitchen, the Browns opened a small restaurant.
The concept gradually expanded through franchising and has grown to more than 330 restaurants across 22 states. That growth reflects the broader popularity explored in the Suncoast Post’s look at why chicken is taking over fast-food sales.
The company describes its food as Southern-style chicken salad prepared from scratch and served with hospitality. Its focused menu has helped the brand distinguish itself from traditional sandwich shops and broader fast-casual chains.
A Convenient Option for Lunch, Takeout and Catering
The Sarasota restaurant is expected to appeal particularly to lunchtime diners, nearby employees, families and customers seeking convenient takeout meals.
Chicken Salad Chick restaurants also provide catering for business meetings, showers, parties, community gatherings and other events. Catering choices generally include sandwich trays, boxed lunches, chicken salad containers, sides, desserts and beverages.
Most existing locations operate Monday through Saturday and close on Sundays. The Bradenton restaurant, for example, is currently listed as open from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Hours for the Sarasota restaurant will be announced closer to its opening.
Community Service Is Part of the Brand
Chicken Salad Chick restaurants frequently participate in fundraising programs and partnerships with schools, food banks and nonprofit organizations.
The company’s charitable foundation supports efforts to fight childhood cancer and food insecurity. Local franchise owners also commonly select organizations and causes within their own communities to support through fundraising events and donations.
That community-oriented approach could help the Sarasota restaurant establish connections beyond its dining room as it becomes part of the local business community.
What Sarasota Diners Should Know
The planned Sarasota Chicken Salad Chick will be located at:
Chicken Salad Chick
6650 Fruitville Road, Suite 132
Sarasota, FL 34240
The restaurant has been listed through the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, but an official grand-opening date, operating hours and promotional events have not yet been released.
Once open, the Fruitville Road location will become the company’s third restaurant operated by Jordan in the Sarasota-Manatee region and its first with a Sarasota address.
Customers can visit the Chicken Salad Chick website for company information, menus and future location updates.
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