On Tuesday, “chicken-finger-only restaurant pioneer” Guthrie’s Chicken Fingers announced a major expansion with a 50-unit area developer agreement that includes Nevada, Idaho, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. The developers, Stephen Galbraith and Matt Dahlhauser of Dahlhauser Galbraith Operating Companies, LLC, say they intend to focus most aggressively on Las Vegas, Reno, and Boise.
“We’re making a very heavy push there [in Vegas],” Galbraith told What Now in a phone conversation on Wednesday.
Guthrie’s has offered its classic take on hand-breaded chicken fingers—served southern-style with coleslaw, crinkle cut fries, Texas toast, and signature dipping sauce—since it was founded in 1965. It has grown to seven states, including Alabama and Georgia, where Galbraith and Dahlhauser are already longtime franchisees. It has more than 46 locations.
“It’s amazing and humbling that Stephen and Matt found their initial investment in Guthrie’s so successful that they decided to take this next step with us,” Joe Kelly Guthrie, CEO of Guthrie’s Franchising, Inc. said in a press release. “They have been incredible owners, and after several conversations and meetings with our team, it was clear that this was going to be a perfect fit. As we continue to grow our franchise community, we’re fortunate that talented, multi-unit operators of Stephen and Matt’s caliber with their experience across multiple business verticals, wanted to continue expanding with our team.”
Guthrie’s is in negotiations for several sites, but no leases have been signed yet. The timeframe for the brand’s arrival in Las Vegas is contingent on permitting, Galbraith said. “But we hope to have a least a handful open within 18 months.”
“We’re excited about it,” added Galbraith. “We’ve got a great product. We love it down here and we think the population in Las Vegas is going to love it as well.”
Keep an eye out for updates from What Now as more information becomes available.
