The Colby restaurant group is poised to open the first of what could be a chain of Southern-style restaurants focused on chicken.
Last fall, plans were disclosed on opening Dixie Chix Southern Kissed Chicken locations in southern New Jersey and Delaware, according to the Burlington County Times.
The first location is now under construction in the Stanton-Christiana area.
The name has since been revised to Colbie’s Southern Kissed Chicken, according to a Facebook post. The change was apparently made after criticism over the term being used as a way to romanticize the South during the period of slavery.
The popular country groups, the Dixie Chicks and Lady Antebellum have since changed their names.
The concept has been around a while, with Colby indicating in 2018 that a location was in the works in the Orlando area with a drive-up window. The name has no connection with the Dixie Chicks.
Colby, whose restaurant company lists Red Robin franchised restaurants on its roster, has been rolling out other concepts, including Chuck Lager’s American Tavern, which opened in Pike Creek and Walk-on’s Bistreaux & Bar, a concept that lists New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees as a principal.
Colby formerly co-owned a group of Burger King restaurants, along with Cosi and Ground. Round locations.
Last year, Colby announced plans to work on the concept will former Top Chef contestant Fabio Viviani, who helped develop Chuck Lager’s, an upscale sports bar-restaurant in Pike Creek.
The restaurant site is now under construction near an area that now house Border Café, Buffalo Wild Wings and Eggspectations restaurants.
Southern food, led by fried chicken, continues to grow in popularity.
Longtime chicken chain Popeyes had a runaway hit with its fried chicken sandwich. The sandwich quickly sold out and Popeyes has yet to bring it back as it works to build a supply chain that can handle the demand.
In the meantime, Chick ‘fil A has grown rapidly, with long-lines at the drive-up window and the average location collecting several times the revenue of a comparable KFC store.
