Southern Classic Chicken Targets Baton Rouge and New Orleans for Franchise Growth

Southern Classic Chicken, the Louisiana-based fried chicken franchise with 17 locations across Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas, has identified Baton Rouge and New Orleans as its next markets for franchise expansion. The team is confident in the brand’s ability to succeed in these bustling Louisiana cities, looking to add a total of 16 to 23 restaurants with hopes to have three to five of those operational within the next five years.

“Baton Rouge and New Orleans are attractive markets for us,” said Thomas E. O'Keefe, the managing director of Southern Classic Chicken. “We have everything we need to take this franchise to new markets, and this feels like a natural progression. We already know that people love our product, but with our new look, we will really stand out in the industry and attract new customers.”

This “new look” O'Keefe is referring to comes in the form of a complete rebrand for Southern Classic Chicken, including an updated color scheme, revamped logo and modernized branding. The brand has been enjoyed by a cult-like following for decades, with Southern Classic Chicken’s branding and design remaining unchanged and recognizable to fans since the ‘80s. However, the corporate team recently decided that it was time to update to a sleeker, cleaner design that still emulates the brand’s roots, but in a more modern way.

The brand refresh also includes the roll out of a new store prototype located in Bossier City, Louisiana, which improves the functionality of Southern Classic Chicken’s beloved drive-thru and walk-up model. Beyond aesthetic updates, all new stores will be built with an updated floor plan and a dual lane drive-thru, enabling more cars to fit in the parking lot and stay off the roads. 

While Southern Classic Chicken already has 14 locations in Louisiana, the brand will be new to the Baton Rouge and New Orleans areas. The team hopes to open six to nine restaurants in Baton Rouge and 10-14 in New Orleans — each creating an average of 21-36 jobs — where the corporate team feels confident that Southern Classic Chicken’s affordable, high quality comfort food will be well received. 

Each new location also offers an excellent opportunity for potential franchisees, as Southern Classic Chicken offers an unmatched prospect in the booming $50 billion chicken industry. 

“People just can’t get enough,” said O’Keefe. “Our drive-thru lanes are packed from when we open at 10 in the morning until 8 p.m. We are looking forward to offering our homestyle fried chicken to a whole new audience.”

New franchise owners in Baton Rouge will receive substantial support from the brand’s corporate team with backing from franchising experts, a recently refreshed look and impressively high AUVs. The team has been operating its corporate stores for 35 years and knows the industry inside and out. 

“We build great relationships with our franchisees,” said O’Keefe. “We want to do everything we can to set them up for success, especially in new markets like Baton Rouge and New Orleans. We are excited to see what the future holds.”

To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/southernclassicchicken