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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Georgia’s being invaded by chicken chains. One flame-grilled. One deep-fried.
California-based El Pollo Loco - translated, ‘the crazy chicken’ - has announced plans to open 50 locations in metro Atlanta within the next 6 years.
The popular West Coast chain, known for its citrus-marinated chicken roasted over an open flame, is expanding for the first time into the Southeast. 7 stores are planned for this year, including the first that opened Monday in Hiram.
Meanwhile, Charlotte-based Bojangles Restaurants has announced it will open another 15 of its Cajun-themed fried chicken joints in metro Atlanta during the next 3 years. The new stores are part of a push to open at least 80 new locations in major Georgia cities, including Savannah and Macon, by 2012.
Atlanta is already home to several major fast-food chicken chains - Mrs. Winner’s, Popeyes, Church’s and Chick-fil-A.
Executives at El Pollo Loco and Bojangles insist there is room to grow in metro Atlanta because quick-serve restaurants here generally outperform their counterparts in other parts of the country.
‘Other chicken chains have reported that Georgia is among… their best markets,’ said Eric Newman, executive vice president of Bojangles.
Both chains hope to set themselves apart, however.
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