When a fast casual brand can draw a line of 100 people willing to camp out for free chicken salad, it's telling operators something important about the state of the category: concept loyalty and Southern-hospitality-driven experience still move people through the door. On Tuesday, August 4, that scene plays out in Allentown as Chicken Salad Chick opens its very first restaurant in Pennsylvania — a milestone that pushes the brand's footprint to 25 states.
The new location sits at 942 Airport Center Road in the Airport Center Shopping Center, strategically placed near Lehigh Valley Airport along Route 22 — an economic lifeline heavily traveled by commuters and shoppers alike. For a growing fast casual concept, that kind of high-traffic, dual-purpose corridor is exactly the real estate math that turns a grand opening into repeat business.
A Grand Opening Built for Buzz
Chicken Salad Chick knows how to make an entrance. The Allentown debut leans on a full week of specials and giveaways engineered to convert curiosity into loyalty:
- Tuesday, August 4, 10 a.m. — The first guest in line wins one FREE large Quick Chick of chicken salad per week for a full year. The next 99 guests receive one FREE large Quick Chick per month for a year.
- Tuesday, August 4, 5 p.m. — The first 50 guests receive a FREE Commemorative Cup with purchase.
- Wednesday, August 5 — The first 50 guests to buy two large Quick Chicks get a FREE Chick cooler.
- Thursday, August 6 — The first 50 guests to buy a meal with one side or greater get a FREE 40oz Chick tumbler.
- Friday, August 7 — The first 50 guests to buy a meal with two sides or greater get a FREE Chick Tote Bag.
- Saturday, August 8 — The first 50 guests to buy a meal with one side get a FREE Scoop Card.
It's a textbook example of turning a single opening day into a seven-day traffic driver, with each promotion tied to a purchase threshold that nudges average check upward.
First-Time Franchisees With a Personal Connection
Chicken Salad Chick of Allentown is owned and operated by married couple and first-time franchise owners Ernest and Amanda Greenford. Ernest is a retired U.S. Army Military Intelligence Pilot, and Amanda brings extensive hotel management experience. Between them, they hold bachelor's degrees in computer science and food science.
The story has roots in Alabama, where the brand originated and where Amanda was a devoted regular. After moving to Pennsylvania and finding no nearby location, the couple set out to bring the experience to Allentown themselves.
"Ernest and I have been counting down the days until we could bring Chicken Salad Chick to Pennsylvania," said Amanda Greenford, co-owner of Chicken Salad Chick of Allentown. "While Chicken Salad Chick is known for its incredible chicken salad, what truly sets the brand apart is its hospitality. We want our guests to come for the food but keep coming back because they feel genuinely welcomed and valued. We can't wait to open our doors and become part of the Allentown community in just a few weeks."
What's on the Menu
Chicken Salad Chick is known for its dozen-plus variety of made-from-scratch chicken salad flavors, fresh sides, gourmet soups, signature sandwiches, and desserts. The Allentown restaurant offers in-restaurant dining, take-out, third-party delivery, and catering — the full omnichannel spread that today's fast casual guests expect. Hours run Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Momentum Toward a 28-State Footprint
Allentown is one data point in a bigger growth story. The brand is on pace to end the year in 28 states, adding New York, West Virginia, and Michigan.
"2026 has been a significant development year for Chicken Salad Chick so far, and we're still gaining momentum," said Scott Deviney, CEO and president of Chicken Salad Chick. "In early-August once the Allentown restaurant opens, Chicken Salad Chick will have a presence in half of the country. By year's end, we'll have operations in 28 states, adding New York, West Virginia and Michigan. It's incredible to see how far we've come from our humble beginnings, and since joining the team in 2015, it's been a pleasure supporting this growth. Expanding alongside dedicated franchise owners like the Greenfords is equally as rewarding, and we can't wait to see them shine in Pennsylvania."
Community giving is baked into the model. The CSC Foundation supports CURE Childhood Cancer and local food banks through year-round fundraisers, and the Allentown team's pre-opening Friends & Family events will raise money for Hope Rescue Mission, a refuge for homeless men, women, and children in Berks County.
Why It Matters
For fast casual operators and multi-unit franchise developers, Chicken Salad Chick's Pennsylvania entry is a useful case study in disciplined, market-by-market growth. A few takeaways worth acting on:
- Location strategy still wins. Anchoring near an airport and a high-traffic route like Route 22 pairs daily commuter volume with catering and take-out demand — a hedge against dining-room-only risk.
- Grand openings can be revenue engines, not just PR. Tying each daily giveaway to a purchase threshold turns free swag into higher average checks and a week of built-in traffic.
- Owner-operator fit drives credibility. Franchisees with a genuine personal connection to the brand — like the Greenfords — tend to translate that authenticity into local loyalty faster than a purely transactional launch.
- Community giving is a differentiator. Pre-opening fundraisers and a foundation platform build goodwill that national chains often struggle to replicate at the neighborhood level.
For procurement and franchise-minded readers watching the fast casual segment, the through-line is clear: differentiated menu, hospitality-first service, and a deliberate geographic rollout remain a durable formula in a crowded QSR landscape.
The Takeaway
Chicken Salad Chick's arrival in Allentown is more than a ribbon-cutting — it's a marker of how a Southern-born concept is methodically building a national footprint one motivated franchisee at a time. Watching how brands expand and where they plant next? Explore more restaurant franchise coverage and fast casual expansion news on Food & Beverage Magazine.
Are hospitality-first fast casual brands like this the ones best positioned to keep growing? Weigh in and share your take in the comments.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Top 40 Under 40” for founding American Wholesale Floral. Politz is also the founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
