New chicken contender eyes the Cedar Rapids restaurant market

CEDAR RAPIDS — Yet another chicken-based franchise has set its sight on the fertile franchise ground of Iowa.

Chick N Max, a Kansas-based fast-casual chain that calls itself “Home of the Chicken Sandwich,” has plans for several Iowa markets in a new wave of Midwestern expansion.

The growing brand, with several locations in Kansas and South Dakota, is looking to open five to seven restaurants across Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Davenport, Des Moines and Sioux City. The Iowa frontier is part of a broader plan to open as many as 50 locations in large and mid-sized markets along the Interstate 35 corridor, including targets on the Dallas-Fort Worth, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Oklahoma City, St. Louis, Topeka and Tulsa areas.

A timeline for the expansion has not been announced.

The restaurant’s signature sandwich is served in 10 configurations made with almond wood-smoked pulled chicken or fried chicken tenders. Varieties include the Chicken and Waffles, Loaded Bama with a white barbecue sauce and coleslaw, and Sriracha Hot Honey with buttermilk garlic sauce and butter pickles. Diners can top any of them off with a selection of 11 sauces.

Sides include fast food standards like fries and onion rings, as well as less common options like macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes and smoked white beans.

“Our menu features the latest food trends in America, and we’re taking it to new heights,” said founder and CEO Max Sheets. “We’re proud to say we’re creating the ‘better chicken sandwich’ segment, offering more than the typical ‘original’ or ‘spicy’ chicken sandwich.”

Expansion will be diversified by four prototypes that can accommodate various sizes of real estate for restaurants ranging from 1,500 to 2,400 square feet. New locations for growing franchise restaurants are often driven by real estate availability.

Chick N Max’s expansion plans follow Iowa plans by fast-casual chicken sandwich concepts like Dave’s Hot Chicken and Chicken Salad Chick.

Chick N Max’s restaurant formats will offer drive-thrus, designated curbside pickup parking spaces, and takeout counters enhanced by digital experiences like digital menu boards and a mobile ordering app.

“Solidifying our franchise expansion is a milestone we can feel proud about reaching in just a few short years since our launch in 2018. Now, our focus is on the future and bringing our innovative take on chicken to new markets,” Sheets said. “We couldn’t be more excited about turning the page to this next chapter of our evolution.”

Comments: Features reporter Elijah Decious can be reached at (319) 398-8340 or elijah.decious@thegazette.com.