Firehouse Subs franchise owners to introduce chicken restaurant brand to Myrtle Beach
Larry and Jody Chandler are already well-represented in the Myrtle Beach area with their Firehouse Subs franchise restaurants.
And they will soon introduce a new eatery to the market.
The Chandlers, an uncle-nephew team from Blythewood and Florence respectively, have a contract to bring the Slim Chickens fast casual restaurant brand to the Grand Strand. The pair plans to open two or three locations within a couple years.
Larry Chandler said the duo, through Chandler Restaurant Group of Columbia, has an area development agreement to open nine Slim Chickens locations in the areas of Myrtle Beach, Charleston and Florence. The first of them is being built in Moncks Corner outside Charleston.
Grand Strand locations are being established and Chandler said he intends to open at least one in the Carolina Forest area and one on the south side of the Strand.
“We’re moving pretty aggressively and we’ve got a few spots in Myrtle Beach that we’re looking at and are pretty close to hopefully getting something done to move it along,” Larry Chandler said.
“Either Myrtle Beach or Florence will probably be our second one if things work out as planned . . . . We’re looking at some promising spots there.”
What’s on the menu?
Slim Chickens will offer dine-in and drive-thru service, cooked-to-order fresh food and 17 house-made dipping sauces. The menu will include chicken tenders, chicken wings, chicken and waffles, fresh salads, sandwiches, and wraps. Chicken can be either grilled or fried.
Side items include potato salad, mac & cheese, coleslaw, ranch chips and fried mushrooms, okra and pickles. Combo meals, family meals and kids meals will be available.
The restaurants will also feature milkshakes and a few sweets in mason jars including strawberry and Oreo cheesecake desserts and a chocolate brownie pudding jar.
The decor will be Southern contemporary with an open layout.
The company calls its devoted fan base “Slimthusiasts.”
The brand was founded in 2003 in Arkansas and has more than 150 locations across the United States and United Kingdom. It is expanding quickly, with more than 750 locations in development, the company said.
“We’ve been looking over the years for something we felt really comfortable with, with the culture of the company and the quality of food and obviously the people part,” Larry Chandler said. “It reminds me of the early years of Firehouse Subs. There are some really great people at the corporate level of Slim Chickens.”
Firehouse Subs expanding
The Chandlers operate Firehouse Subs through their company TLC Enterprises in Columbia.
Larry Chandler opened his first in 2004 and Jody joined the team in 2006.
They now have 32 in operation with six more expected to open by August and a couple more possible by the end of the year.
They don’t own all of the Grand Strand’s Firehouse Subs locations, but do own them on US 501 in the Myrtle Ridge area, at SC 544 and 17 Bypass, and in Gator Hole Plaza in North Myrtle Beach.
The Chandlers retain Firehouse Subs rights in the area and will open one hopefully by July in the new Marketplace at the Mill in Carolina Forest that is anchored by a Publix supermarket. They also have intentions to add a Pawleys Island/Georgetown location.
“We’re looking forward to growing both concepts and of course by doing that we’re going to be able to create a lot more jobs for people and hopefully a lot of really good careers for people. That’s what our goal is,” Larry Chandler said.
This story was originally published March 15, 2022 at 9:09 AM.
