A one-of-a-kind fast-casual restaurant chain is making a major expansion in the Minnesota market.
Chicken Salad Chick, the nation's only fast-casual chicken salad restaurant concept, is expanding its presence with the addition of 10 new restaurants in Minneapolis area. The new expansion comes in an agreement with former professional basketball player Richard Coffey, who was a standout at the University of Minnesota before going on to play for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
After playing for the Timberwolves for just one season, Coffey went on to play in the Continental Basketball Association and overseas in Japan, Spain and Turkey. His son, Amir, currently plays for the Los Angeles Clippers of the NBA while his daughter, Nia, plays for the Atlanta Dream of the WNBA.
"We knew we wanted to go into business with a brand that we could all get behind," Coffey said in a statement. "Chicken Salad Chick stood out because of the support and communication we've received from the team. This is more than a business venture, it's a family journey, and we're excited to do it with a brand that feels the same way."
According to the press release, Coffey's daughters, Sydney, who works in sales, and Nia, are preparing to move back to Minneapolis to help lead the family venture. In addition to the 10 locations in Minnesota, Chicken Salad Chick plans 10 more locations across the midwest over the next five years.
"We're thrilled to have a passionate and community-driven family join Chicken Salad Chick," Mark Verges, VP of Franchise Development for Chicken Salad Chick said in a statement. "Their deep roots in Minnesota and commitment to giving back make them great partners as we grow our presence in the Midwest."