FRISCO, Texas — Layne’s Chicken Fingers, the Soon to be Famous™ Texas-based chicken finger franchise, is celebrating another growth milestone. Eli Cohen, founder of C5 Restaurants, has expanded his agreement with Layne’s to add five additional units in San Antonio and build the brand’s Arkansas presence to at least 10 restaurants, with the long-term goal of developing 20-plus across the state. As the brand’s biggest developer, Cohen’s development plans now represent over 55 restaurants for Layne’s.
“We at C5 are excited for this growth with Layne’s. From day one, the Layne’s leadership team has felt like true partners to us. They’re smart, grounded and focused on sustainable growth,” Cohen said. “The decision to expand our relationship with Layne’s while creating a runway for growth in another state was an easy one. We see Layne’s as not just a brand but a platform with which we can build great teams and great communities across South and West Texas and Arkansas, and scaling our unit count allows us to further scale our impact.”
The C5 team recently opened Layne’s newest location in Arkansas at 19425 Cantrell Road, which is the fourth in the state. Building on the presence in Chenal, Hot Springs, Benton and North Little Rock, Cohen is targeting 20-plus more restaurants across the state and is actively sourcing new sites.
Alongside the Arkansas expansion, the team has continued to drive growth across Texas. In the first quarter, Cohen added five additional units to his San Antonio development agreement and has already secured a site on Marbach Road. There are also two C5 openings in the San Antonio area slated for late summer 2026. Cohen notes that population growth in San Antonio is headed west, and as such, he’s focused on disciplined growth in this direction.
In addition to steady market expansion, C5 is also preparing for the brand’s entry into Lubbock with its unit at 7902 University Ave., which will be the first of four in the market and Layne’s 50th location, slated to open in early June. The next two Lubbock restaurants will open in quick succession (July and August), further building on the momentum and setting the stage for the final Lubbock restaurant, a ground-up development, to open early next year.
“Eli and the C5 team are exactly the kind of operators we want growing with us,” said Layne’s CEO Garrett Reed. “They understand the brand, they know how to build strong local teams, and they’re helping us reach a major milestone with our 50th location in Lubbock. As Layne’s continues to grow, partners like C5 are going to be a big part of bringing the brand to more communities across the country.”
C5 Restaurants’ expansion with Layne’s is a key driver of growth in what’s shaping up to be a record-breaking year for the brand. With its 50th location on the horizon and a consistently growing pipeline, the Soon to be Famous™ chicken finger franchise continues to leverage its operational prowess and relationship-driven culture to drive its healthy expansion.
ABOUT LAYNE'S CHICKEN FINGERS:
Founded in 1994 in College Station, Texas, Layne’s Chicken Fingers built its reputation on hand-breaded crispy tenders, iconic secret sauce and genuine hospitality. What started as a local favorite near Texas A&M University has grown into one of the fastest-rising chicken finger brands in the country, known for its crave-worthy menu, playful personality and loyal fanbase. With over 50 locations open and rapid expansion underway, Layne’s is bringing its signature chicken finger experience to communities nationwide.
For more information, visit www.layneschickenfingers.com.
Layne's Chicken Fingers
SPONSORED
Led by Eli Cohen, the restaurant and real estate development group has continued its growth across Texas and opened its first Arkansas location as it prepares to open Layne’s 50th restaurant.
FRISCO, Texas — Layne’s Chicken Fingers, the Soon to be Famous™ Texas-based chicken finger franchise, is celebrating another growth milestone. Eli Cohen, founder of C5 Restaurants, has expanded his agreement with Layne’s to add five additional units in San Antonio and build the brand’s Arkansas presence to at least 10 restaurants, with the long-term goal of developing 20-plus across the state. As the brand’s biggest developer, Cohen’s development plans now represent over 55 restaurants for Layne’s.
“We at C5 are excited for this growth with Layne’s. From day one, the Layne’s leadership team has felt like true partners to us. They’re smart, grounded and focused on sustainable growth,” Cohen said. “The decision to expand our relationship with Layne’s while creating a runway for growth in another state was an easy one. We see Layne’s as not just a brand but a platform with which we can build great teams and great communities across South and West Texas and Arkansas, and scaling our unit count allows us to further scale our impact.”
The C5 team recently opened Layne’s newest location in Arkansas at 19425 Cantrell Road, which is the fourth in the state. Building on the presence in Chenal, Hot Springs, Benton and North Little Rock, Cohen is targeting 20-plus more restaurants across the state and is actively sourcing new sites.
Alongside the Arkansas expansion, the team has continued to drive growth across Texas. In the first quarter, Cohen added five additional units to his San Antonio development agreement and has already secured a site on Marbach Road. There are also two C5 openings in the San Antonio area slated for late summer 2026. Cohen notes that population growth in San Antonio is headed west, and as such, he’s focused on disciplined growth in this direction.
In addition to steady market expansion, C5 is also preparing for the brand’s entry into Lubbock with its unit at 7902 University Ave., which will be the first of four in the market and Layne’s 50th location, slated to open in early June. The next two Lubbock restaurants will open in quick succession (July and August), further building on the momentum and setting the stage for the final Lubbock restaurant, a ground-up development, to open early next year.
“Eli and the C5 team are exactly the kind of operators we want growing with us,” said Layne’s CEO Garrett Reed. “They understand the brand, they know how to build strong local teams, and they’re helping us reach a major milestone with our 50th location in Lubbock. As Layne’s continues to grow, partners like C5 are going to be a big part of bringing the brand to more communities across the country.”
C5 Restaurants’ expansion with Layne’s is a key driver of growth in what’s shaping up to be a record-breaking year for the brand. With its 50th location on the horizon and a consistently growing pipeline, the Soon to be Famous™ chicken finger franchise continues to leverage its operational prowess and relationship-driven culture to drive its healthy expansion.
ABOUT LAYNE'S CHICKEN FINGERS:
Founded in 1994 in College Station, Texas, Layne’s Chicken Fingers built its reputation on hand-breaded crispy tenders, iconic secret sauce and genuine hospitality. What started as a local favorite near Texas A&M University has grown into one of the fastest-rising chicken finger brands in the country, known for its crave-worthy menu, playful personality and loyal fanbase. With over 50 locations open and rapid expansion underway, Layne’s is bringing its signature chicken finger experience to communities nationwide.
For more information, visit www.layneschickenfingers.com.
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