CityBird, a premium chicken tender restaurant focused on unmatched quality, announces goals for further expansion in Cincinnati and entrance into Dayton. As chicken continues to “rule the roost ” with both consumers and operators, CityBird looks to meet this growing demand by bringing its cage-free, all-natural tenders to more communities across Ohio.
With six thriving locations already operating across Cincinnati, the brand is now looking to double their footprint in the city, deepening their roots and presence in their home market. At the same time, CityBird has found a potential site for their first location in Dayton and is looking for an owner-operator to take over, in addition to franchise partners to develop three to five CityBirds in the new market. As an emerging brand, CityBird offers the ability to get in early with a high-potential restaurant backed by the leadership team and extensive knowledge from the Thunderdome Restaurant Group. With over 45 years of combined restaurant experience, Thunderdome’s owners bring hands-on support, a track record of success, and a strong family-driven culture, ensuring franchisees benefit from a corporate team genuinely invested in the success of every location.
“We look forward to welcoming passionate entrepreneurs to join us in our journey,” said Joe Lanni, co-founder of CityBird. “Over the years, we’ve created a business model that’s not only easy to scale, but easy to operate. As an emerging brand, we hope to find true partners in our community who look forward to taking the CityBird experience to the next phase of growth.”
CityBird has seen immense success in their home city since its conception. Originally launched as a carry-out extension to meet the overwhelming demand for The Eagle – another beloved concept in the Thunderdome Restaurant Group portfolio – the brand quickly carved out its own identity and shows no signs of slowing down in this thriving city. The brand’s local demand, coupled with Cincinnati’s ranking as the number four Top Metropolitan City in the U.S., in 2024, presents the perfect market for continued expansion, with nearby Dayton emerging as a natural next step.
“Cincinnati is where everything began, and it’s where we still see some of our strongest demand,” said Alex Blust, co-founder of CityBird. “We’re thrilled to build upon our incredible traction in Cincinnati, and have the opportunity to expand into Dayton to continue our mission of bringing the perfect tender across the Midwest.”
Founded in 2018 by Alex Blust and brothers Joe and John Lanni – the visionary restaurateurs behind Thunderdome Restaurant Group – CityBird has quickly made its mark in the booming fast-casual space with its commitment to cage-free, all-natural chicken that’s brined, hand-dredged, and fried fresh to order. With a concise menu, CityBird has perfected the art of the chicken tender, delivering fast service and consistently high-quality execution across all locations. Existing CityBird locations have achieved consistent year-over-year sales growth, proving both the strength of the brand and the growing demand. With flexible footprints —from walk-up to drive-thru to dine-in— that can thrive in both urban and suburban markets, and a full tech stack supporting both customer engagement and operational efficiency, CityBird is prepped for scalable, unlimited success.
As CityBird continues to focus on strategic, regional growth, the brand is actively looking for dedicated single and multi-unit franchisees passionate about providing the ultimate chicken tender experience to their community.
