With 170 locations currently operating in the U.S. and the U.K., plus 900 locations currently in development, chicken franchise Slim Chickens is undergoing explosive growth. As part of this expansion, the brand has signed an agreement to open restaurants throughout Las Vegas.
The franchisee, Dennis Ekstrom, has considerable experience as a restaurant operator. Ekstrom currently serves as the Slim Chicken franchisee for New Mexico and El Paso, TX, and he has also had success with a number of Denny’s and Del Taco locations. The deal for Las Vegas also includes the entire state of Wyoming.
“After I opened my first Slims restaurant and I saw the excitement the community felt, it endorsed my beliefs in the brand. I am thrilled that I am able to bring the brand’s craveable menu items to neighborhoods across Wyoming and Vegas,” Ekstrom said in a press release. “Slim Chickens truly is a brand to be reckoned with. Its leadership within not only the chicken segment, but restaurant franchises as a whole, makes growing with Slims an easy decision.”
What Now reached out to Dennis Ekstrom on Friday for a few additional questions. To begin with, just how many locations are we talking about?
“Ten at the minimum,” Ekstrom said. “I’m looking Las Vegas in its entirety, all around I-15 and 215 and in between. All of Clark County, really.”
The Slim Chickens menu features tenders and wings served with fries, toast, and a selection of sauces that include Ranch, Cayenne Ranch, Slim Sauce, Honey Mustard, Garlic Parmesan, Mango Harbanero, and a whole lot more. It also offers several takes on the chicken sandwich craze, including the Crispy Chicken Sandwich, the Buffalo Ranch Sandwich, and the Chicken Club Sandwich. The restaurant’s southern flare shows up particularly in sides like Fried Okra and Fried Mushrooms, plus the classic Chicken & Waffles.
Asked when the rollout might begin, Ekstrom was unable to say as yet. Negotiations are underway already for several locations, but it’s hard to say when (or where) Las Vegas’s first Slim Chickens location will materialize.
Stay tuned for updates as news of this burgeoning brand’s Las Vegas arrival takes shape.
