Restaurant Utility Worker

Southern fried chicken chain Zaxbys enters Manhattan's chicken finger fight with first UES location. Published Oct. 9, 2026, 1:49 p.m. ET Winner winner... you know the rest. Beloved Southern chicken chain Zaxbys has, at long last, landed in Manhattan, thereby expanding its territory in the tender takedown. Known for its famous fingers and signature sauces, Georgia-born Zaxbys opened its Upper East Side location at 1267 First Avenue (between 68th and 69th Streets) last week, and celebrated with a grand opening and ribbon-cutting on October 8. "New York is one of the most influential food cities in the world, and we're incredibly proud to introduce Zaxbys to this market," said Bernard Acoca, Chief Executive Officer of Zaxbys. "Whether it's Southern transplants looking for a taste of home or New Yorkers discovering our Chicken Fingerz and signature sauces for the first time, we're excited to share the Southern hospitality and bold flavor experiences that have made Zaxbys a fan favorite for more than 35 years." Zaxbys, which was founded in 1990 and boasts more than 1,000 locations across 24 states, made its NY debut earlier this summer with a Bronx location at 3260 Boston Road. Zaxbys foray into the New York market could put heat on rival tender peddler Raising Cane's, threatening its dominance in the city. Raising Cane's was first to the game, opening its first New York location in 2023 with an 8,000-square-foot global flagship store in Times Square. "From exclusive menu innovations inspired by New York's iconic food culture to community-focused experiences and surprise moments for fans, the brand will be showing New Yorkers how to Zax," Zaxbys promised. The rivalry between Zaxbys and Louisiana-based Raising Cane's - often dubbed the "Chicken Tender War" - is one of fast food's most intense battles. Many a content creator has made their mark and their money by comparing the two. While both brands offer nearly identical platters (chicken tenders, crinkle-cut fries, Texas toast, and a signature mayo-and-pepper sauce), their business philosophies and flavor profiles differ widely. Still, as both brands continue to expand their tender territories, they often build directly across the street from one another, intensifying local brand-loyalty wars. Both brands' signature sauces (Zax Sauce and Cane's Sauce) feature a similar base of mayonnaise, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and black pepper. Cane's Sauce is famously mixed fresh by hand in every store daily. Meanwhile, Zaxby's deals exclusively in factory-sealed sauces but offers an expanded list of flavors including buffalo, teriyaki, and sweet heat. McDonald's is reportedly joining the fray. The brand is preparing to test hand-breaded chicken menu items in nearly 200 restaurants across the US and Ireland next year. It's part of McDonald's plan to snatch market share from competitors like Zaxby and Raising Cane's, both of which hand-batter and -bread chicken daily in restaurants around the country. Zaxbys promoted the new UES opening in a series of Instagram posts featuring its jersey-wearing avian mascot Coop. If they can make it here, they can make it anywhere. The products that took on the city - and won! New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change. Fans were hype. "This is equivalent to Mandami becoming mayor," commented one chicken enthusiast. "The north ain't ready for that Zax sauce," prophesied another. "My dreams are coming true," exclaimed a third. "You don't understand how long I've been vocally manifesting this. And it's not only in NYC, but in my neighborhood!!! THANK YOU for making my wildest dreams come true!!!," mused another.

Zaxbys partners with Areas USA to expand into travel plazas. Oct 6 2026 Zaxbys, the rapidly growing Georgia-based QSR franchise known for its Chicken Fingerz, wings and 12 signature sauces, is entering the travel hospitality sector through a multi-unit agreement with Areas USA, the nation's largest privately held travel hospitality company. The deal will develop five restaurants at Florida Turnpike service plazas, and the team recently opened the first unit on Sept. 29 at the Turkey Lake Service Plaza in Orlando. The restaurant situated at 263 Florida's Turnpike will introduce millions of travelers each year to one of the nation's fastest-growing chicken brands along a high-traffic Florida travel corridor. The deal marks a significant step in Zaxbys' long-term growth strategy and is the brand's largest non-traditional development agreement to date. As consumers increasingly seek recognizable restaurant brands wherever they travel, Zaxbys is expanding beyond traditional freestanding restaurants into heavily frequented destinations that offer greater convenience and introduce the brand to new audiences. Pairing Areas' extensive travel hospitality expertise with Zaxbys' growing brand presence and consumer appeal, the partnership creates a strong foundation for continued expansion in travel venues and other non-traditional environments. Areas will support Zaxbys' broader strategy to pursue flexible formats and strategic real estate opportunities that encourage long-term growth. "Today's guests expect convenience without compromising on quality, and this partnership allows us to meet them where they are," said Russ Holland, Chief Development Officer at Zaxbys. "Working with Areas USA enables us to introduce the Zaxbys experience to millions of travelers each year while continuing to build on our non-traditional development strategy. We're excited to expand into one of Florida's most heavily traveled corridors alongside a partner that shares our commitment to delivering exceptional guest experiences." The Areas agreement, part of Areas' longstanding partnership with Florida's Turnpike Enterprise to enhance the state's service plazas, establishes a scalable model for future growth while reinforcing Zaxbys' potential across broader non-traditional environments. Zaxbys is actively exploring opportunities within airports, colleges and universities, military installations and other high-traffic destinations. By combining flexible restaurant formats with strong operational support, Zaxbys is well positioned to work with leading non-traditional operators to expand its presence in new venues while strengthening brand awareness nationwide. "With its bold flavors and Southern hospitality, Zaxbys is a great fit for these plazas. We're proud to be part of Florida, home to our U.S. headquarters, and to partner with Zaxbys and Florida's Turnpike Enterprise on this expansion. We've invested in these plazas, and we're excited to continue investing in their future. For us, hospitality is about making every stop a better experience, with welcoming spaces, great service and more choices for travelers," said Richard Schneider, Chief Development Officer of Areas USA. Founded in 1990, Zaxbys has grown to more than 1,000 restaurants by delivering differentiated chicken offerings, bold flavors and Southern hospitality. Today, the brand continues to build momentum through strategic franchise expansion, menu innovation and flexible development models designed to meet guests wherever they live, work and travel. The brand's commitment to quality and innovation has earned it numerous industry accolades, including recognition in QSR Magazine's 2024 Top 50 Fast-Food Chains, Entrepreneur, Forbes, and Newsweek. With a strong leadership team and a focus on long-term, sustainable growth, Zaxbys continues to stay true to its mission of delivering mouthwatering food and memorable experiences to its loyal fanbase.

Zaxby's is zipping into South Bridge Marketplace. * By Karen Bartunek * Oct 2, 2026 * Chicken run Zaxby's will bring speed and zing to a growing dining corridor at South Bridge Marketplace. Developer Thompson Thrift, the company behind Sonoran Creek Marketplace, is currently in the throes of construction for South Bridge Marketplace. Last week, they revealed in a social media post the fast food chicken restaurant is one of the dining options opening in the new shopping center. Zaxby's will move into a space off John Wayne Parkway and Honeycutt Avenue. It is the second chicken restaurant to join the marketplace; Angry Chickz, a Nashville hot chicken restaurant, will sit two doors down from Panera Bread. The chicken chain is known not only for its play on the letter "z" - zalads or Zaks Packz, anyone? - but also for its menu of chicken fingers and wings. While Thompson Thrift did not confirm the exact location, there are currently two restaurant spaces undergoing negotiations - a 1,400-square-foot space between Panera Bread and Angry Chickz, and a 3,200-square-foot space immediately south. Other confirmed South Bridge tenants include Aldi, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Tropical Café Smoothie, Club Pilates and European Wax Center. Construction began in April 2024 with a Lowe's retail and garden center. Continued construction spans 60,000 square feet that will include a grocery store, plus 10,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space. Karen Bartunek. Karen is a reporter for InMaricopa. Reach her at [email protected].