New chicken franchise sets up shop in Fox Valley

Cheryl Hentz

Contributor

January 26, 2023

APPLETON – There is a new chicken joint looking to rule the roost in Appleton.

Slim Chickens – which prides itself on freshly made products – opened its doors at 601 W. Northland Ave. just weeks ago.
Not only is the location the first one in the Fox Cities area, but it’s also the first Slim Chickens in Wisconsin.

However, if entrepreneurs Nick and Chad Sternitzy of PREL Investments Inc. have anything to say about it, it won’t be the last.
The brothers – the driving force behind the franchise’s push into Wisconsin – said they have signed a development deal with Slim Chickens to open eight more stores in the Badger State.

“It could be more than nine total, but right now, we have an agreement in place to do nine, mostly in the Fox Valley – so Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, another in Appleton, Green Bay and then we have some territories in Central Wisconsin we’re looking at, too,” Nick said.

Though new to the Slim Chickens brand, this isn’t the Sternitzkys’ first foray into restaurant franchising.

The duo grew up learning the restaurant business – and business in general – from their parents who owned four Arby’s locations.

Nick said their father was a dairy farmer, while their mother ran the restaurants.

He said he and his brother started working in the restaurants when they turned 15 and continued working there through high school and summers while in college.

The brothers took over restaurant operations from their parents in 2012.

They sold all four locations in 2020.   

The Slim Chickens brand prides itself on its cooked-to-order fresh food. Submitted Photo

“After that, we took time to look for some new opportunities,” Nick said.

That included purchasing a Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers franchise in Appleton.

Nick said they are planning another one just outside of Green Bay that will open this summer.

Slim Chickens, Nick said, was the next opportunity he and his brother thought would be a good fit for the area – which has already made a positive economic impact within the community by creating 72 jobs.

The feedback thus far, he said, has been positive – noting additional staffers were needed in the drive-thru to help direct traffic on the first few days as customers checked out the new flavor in town.

Even though the Appleton Slim Chickens location just opened, Nick said planning is already underway for their second.
Though all the details haven’t been finalized yet, he said they’re getting close.

Behind the franchise
Slim Chickens got its start in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Feb. 17, 2003, by co-founders and longtime friends Greg Smart and Tom Gordon, but has left the nest since that first store.

Jackie Lobdell, vice president of franchise development for the Slim Chickens chain, said there are currently 204 stores – including 10 company stores in Arkansas and 194 franchise locations throughout the country and the United Kingdom.
As the company approaches its 20th anniversary, Lobdell said it is looking to open 60-70 new stores this year, topping the 50 it opened in 2022.

“We’re growing by leaps and bounds,” Lobdell said.

Chad said the basics they know about running a franchise operation are much the same.

“Arby’s has been around for a long time and has a lot of good systems in place that easily translate to Slim Chickens,” he said.

The menu, atmosphere
The brand prides itself on its cooked-to-order fresh food.

Lobdell said the Slim Chickens’ menu and hospitality are a hit with folks from all walks of life.

“What is great about Slim Chickens is a few different things,” she said. “No. 1, at our core, we serve great food. Our food is paramount to the success of the brand. No. 2, the culture of our brand is phenomenal. When you couple our fantastic food and our great culture with our southern hospitality – which is the customer service piece – it all resonates with customers. We have something for everybody, including someone who wants a lighter type of meal.”

Though the Sternitzkys have fast-food restaurant experience, Chad said Slim Chickens’ focus on making fresh, hand-breaded products is different from what they are used to.

“We’re excited and anxious for people to come in and try the food,” he said. “It’s quite delicious. And the restaurant itself is beautiful.”

The Appleton location opened its doors on Northland Avenue Jan. 16. Submitted Photo

Of all the chicken places in today’s marketplace, Lobdell said there are a few things that set Slim Chickens apart.

“Our main staple is chicken tenders,” she said. “We use only the best ingredients, freshest chickens and proprietary spice blends for the breading. The chicken is brined, buttermilk-marinated and cooked to order. Those things are important to the taste and the quality of the food.”

Lobdell said some of Slim Chickens’ menu items also add to the restaurant’s uniqueness.

“Like our fried pickles,” she said. “They, too, are made from scratch, not frozen. When someone orders one, it is taken from the pickle juice, breaded and then fried.”

Lobdell said Slim Chickens Mason jar desserts are also proprietary to the brand.

“The chicken and waffles are also ridiculously good and an interesting menu item for a quick, casual restaurant,” she said. “It’s about that southern style, buttermilk marinade and things being lightly breaded by hand and every order is cooked fresh-to-order.”

Lobdell said the restaurant also has 17 house dipping sauces.

“There’s a different flavor profile you can get every time you walk in the door,” she said. “If someone likes spicy chicken, we have several different sauces they can utilize. If they like mild, if they like ranch, if they like honey mustard, whatever someone likes, we have it for them. They’re not only proprietary but they’re made fresh in each of our restaurants. Even our mac and cheese is proprietary and is made with white cheddar cheese.”