Count Zaxby’s among the growing number of restaurant chains ready to expand a to-go-only prototype. The chain on Wednesday unveiled its first franchised-owned location without a dining room. Owned and operated by Chicken Scratch Holdings, Inc., the Hoover, Alabama, store opened June 5 for drive-thru, to-go, and pickup.
It’s a 2,000-square-foot venue, which is roughly two-thirds the size of a core-model Zaxby’s. There’s a walk-up window for guests to place to-go orders as well as an outdoor patio with four tables. It was built by Birmingham-based Vincent Construction, Inc.
Zaxby’s focused on drive-thru speed with a double-lane layout and new digital menuboards. There’s also a payment window and drive-thru delivery door to enables faster pay and pickup.
“We are very excited to bring this new to-go concept to Hoover and serve our delicious chicken fingers and wings to the community,” said Russell Pate, owner of Chicken Scratch Holdings, Inc., in a statement. “We have hired 50 new team members at this location and look forward to providing opportunities for growth within our organization.”
Chicken Scratch Holdings has operated Zaxby’s stores since 2004. Today, it directs four locations within Hoover city limits and 10 across Alabama.
Zaxby’s debuted the to-go-only model last year in Memphis, Tennessee. It opened another, in Clemson, South Carolina, in early 2023. But unlike the Hoover store, both were corporate run.
The Clemson restaurant was a remodel of a tradition build as well.
Here’s a look at how Zaxby’s performance has tracked in recent years:
Unit count
- 2022: 922
- 2021: 908
- 2020: 905
- 2019: 904
- 2018: 898
- 2017: 877
- 2016: 818
- 2015: 731
- 2014: 662
U.S. systemwide sales (in millions)
- 2022: $2,380
- 2021: $2,233
- 2020: $2,000
- 2019: $1,913.24
- 2018: $1,776.39
- 2017: $1,654.20
- 2016: $1,540.78
- 2015: $1,444.52
- 2014: $1,236.85
Average-unit volume (in thousands)
- 2022: $2,590
- 2021: $2,484
- 2020: $2,200
- 2019: $2,143.77
- 2018: $2,034.54
- 2017: $1,998.70
- 2016: $2,050.86
- 2015: $2,155.54
- 2014: $2,033.41
