Eliot McDonald is no stranger to the fast-paced world of quick-service restaurants. As the operations manager for three active Layne's Chicken Fingers locations and two more coming soon — spanning Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia — McDonald is focused on expansion and maintaining the high standards of the brand. 

Before working his way up to the corporate level and transitioning to work with a multi-unit franchisee, McDonald joined Layne’s as a cashier with big plans for growth. Coming from Raising Cane’s, he knew he wanted to build a career with a chicken brand that had a less “corporate,” more laid-back feel. Now, he is working alongside a strong team in Pittsburgh to help grow the brand in new markets, including the newest location coming soon in Parma, Ohio.

McDonald took the time to chat with 1851 Franchise to discuss all of this and more. Here’s what he had to say:

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before joining Layne’s and how did you know operating the restaurants made sense for you?

Eliot McDonald: I started with Layne’s in 2019 as a cashier. I quickly worked my way up and became director of operations for the corporate office. During that time, I had the opportunity to work closely with [COO] Samir [Wattar], and I eventually had an opportunity to join the 3E Franchise team to help develop multiple units, starting in West Virginia. I decided to take the leap.

1851: What did you think it would mean to take on this role?

McDonald: When I first came to Layne’s, my intention was to franchise. I had a conversation with the leadership team about it in 2019, and at the time, we decided that it just made the most sense for me to stay on the corporate side.  

Now coming to the franchisee side, I'm still in operations, and I see it as just another way of helping the brand. I’m still working to maintain the standards and deliver the experience the guest expects, I’m just directly helping a franchisee achieve that now.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with these restaurants? What are 3E’s plans for growth? 

McDonald: When I came to work with the 3E team, my goal was to grow to 15 to 20 units between Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Hopefully there’s potential for something beyond that, but that’s where I feel I can take it with my skill and infrastructure. Right now, we have the team in place to reach eight to 10 units healthily. We have all the right cards to grow this thing.

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

McDonald: Full disclosure, I did come to Layne’s from Raising Cane’s. I love the fact that Layne’s started first and, while they are a corporation, they’re just not quite as “corporate” as Cane’s. We have the Astro Chicken as our mascot, symbolizing the carefree attitude while still holding ourselves to our mission to serve awesome food and great customer service. It really makes us stand out.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about running a franchise?

McDonald: Do your homework. Franchising can be exciting and profitable, but it’s important to understand what you’re getting into. From an operational standpoint, I think Layne’s is a fantastic concept — it's simple, efficient and enjoyable. But you need to be prepared and know what it takes to run a successful franchise.

ABOUT LAYNE'S CHICKEN FINGERS

Founded in 1994 in College Station, the original location became a Texas A&M legend known for its small-town charm, friendly service, iconic chicken fingers and secret sauce. While opening corporate locations across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the leadership team focused on fine tuning its operations and starting to franchise.  

Franchise opportunities range from $446,500 to $1,015,000 with different buildout options available. Learn more about franchising here.