Chicken Salad Chick Opens Third Sarasota Franchise
Chicken Salad Chick opened its newest restaurant at 6650 Fruitville Road in Sarasota, Florida, on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
Karen Jordan opened her third Chicken Salad Chick restaurant in Sarasota’s Fruitville Farms shopping center on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, expanding her Manasota Chick LLC franchise group. The opening marks the brand's first location in Sarasota County, with the company expressing pride in the expansion. The restaurant at 6650 Fruitville Road offers in-restaurant dining, an outdoor patio, take-out, third-party delivery, and catering. Jordan also owns and operates Chicken Salad Chick locations in Bradenton and Parrish, the latter having opened in December 2025.
Grand opening features Dick Vitale and V Foundation tie-in
ESPN broadcaster and longtime pediatric cancer research advocate Dick Vitale attended the restaurant’s Friends & Family event and ribbon-cutting ceremony on behalf of the V Foundation for Cancer Research. Funds were raised for the foundation during pre-opening events. Guests had the opportunity to meet Vitale, purchase signed copies of his book, and learn about the annual Dick Vitale Gala, scheduled for May 7, 2027. Chicken Salad Chick highlighted its commitment to community involvement and charitable giving, honoring the V Foundation's mission to advance life-saving cancer research.
Opening week promotions reward early guests with free meals and merchandise
The first 100 guests in line at the 10:30am opening on September 29 won free chicken salad for a year. The promotions followed a tiered structure, with daily giveaways continuing through the first weekend.
| Day | Date | Offer | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | September 29 | Free large Quick Chick per week for a year | First guest in line |
| Tuesday | September 29 | Free large Quick Chick per month for a year | Next 99 guests in line |
| Wednesday | September 30 | Free 16oz Tervis Tumbler | First 50 guests with qualifying purchase |
| Thursday | October 1 | Free Red Grocery Tote | First 50 guests with qualifying purchase |
| Friday | October 2 | Free large Chick Cooler | First 50 guests with qualifying purchase |
| Saturday | October 3 | Free large Quick Chick on next visit | First 50 guests with qualifying purchase |
Operational details and participation requirements for guests
To participate in the free chicken salad promotion, guests had to be 16 years or older and download the Chicken Salad Chick app to secure a spot in line. Wi-Fi was not available on site during the grand opening. Guests were required to make a purchase of a meal with two sides or equivalent value and enter a code in the app to officially secure their spot. If a guest left the line, their spot was awarded to the next person. The first free large Quick Chick was delivered electronically to the app the Monday following Grand Opening Day, valid for redemption for 30 days upon delivery. The promotion was in-restaurant only, limited to one reward per guest present, and not valid with any other offers. The restaurant operates Monday through Saturday from 10:30am to 8pm.
Franchisee’s community involvement and brand context
Franchise owner Karen Jordan is an active community member. She serves on the board of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, Parrish Area Business Alliance, Successful Women Aligning Together, Discover Bradenton, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Jordan recently welcomed her seventh grandchild. Chicken Salad Chick CEO and President Scott Deviney praised her contribution. "Karen is an amazing franchise owner and her passion for serving others has been vital for our growth in Southwest Florida," Deviney said. The Atlanta-based chain, which calls itself the nation’s only fast casual chicken salad restaurant concept, has more than 345 restaurants across 27 states. It offers dozen-plus varieties of made-from-scratch chicken salad flavors, fresh side salads, gourmet soups, signature sandwiches, and desserts. The brand signed franchise agreements for Orlando, Lakeland, and Viera, Florida in late 2025 and opened locations in Palm Coast and Lake City during 2026.
Karen Jordan reflected on the milestone. "Opening my third Chicken Salad Chick restaurant is a really exciting milestone for me," she said. The restaurant will continue operating under standard hours with dine-in, patio, takeout, delivery, and catering services available.
