The new Chicken Salad Chick has been offering a sneak peek of its delectable variety of dishes in the days leading up to its formal opening Tuesday.
Pat and Gerri Piscitelli of the Village of De La Vista were among the guests who had the chance to sample the cuisine at the new restaurant located at La Plaza Grande shopping center in The Villages.
“Five stars!” Gerri declared after tasting chicken salad from a sampler plate that included Cranberry Kelli (a mixture of dried, sweetened cranberries and slivered almonds), Mimi’s Mix (a tasty blend of Fuji apples and cashews), and Sassy Scotty (a zesty blend of ranch, bacon and shredded cheddar cheese.)
She was also captivated by the story her waitress told of the restaurant chain’s founder, Stacy M. Brown.
A single mother with children to support, she started making chicken salad in her kitchen in Auburn, Ala. She met Kevin Brown who would become her future husband and business partner. They launched Chicken Salad Chick in 2008 and there are now nearly 50 restaurants across the southeast.
Sadly, Kevin Brown died in November after a two-year battle with cancer. But the chain he helped found is going gangbusters.
The local Chicken Salad Chick (about halfway between Winn-Dixie and Publix at La Plaza Grande) will be open between 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturday. The restaurant, like all Chicken Salad Chick locations, will be closed on Sundays.
The newest Chicken Salad Chick is owned and operated by franchisee team Tim O’Neill, Bill Battillo and Mark Clausen of Village Chick, LLC. This is the first franchise location for the group and marks the eighth Chicken Salad Chick restaurant in Florida.
Learn more about the restaurant chain at www.chickensaladchick.com
