According to public filings, Golden Chick, a Texas-born quick-service chicken chain, plans to expand into Salado. Franchisee STN Chicken Group is developing the new location at 2317 Salado Center Loop. Golden Chick’s menu centers on its Original Golden Tenders, along with fried and roasted chicken, fried catfish, sandwiches, fresh salads, yeast rolls, and a variety of sides.
What Now Austin spoke with Suleman Khan, CEO of STN Chicken Group, who said the project is currently in the permitting phase. While public records list a December 2026 construction completion date, Khan said the restaurant is currently on track for a late-2026 debut, though the opening could slip into early 2027 depending on the permitting timeline. The new restaurant will span 2,050 square feet.
Khan said STN Chicken Group chose Salado because it identified a gap along the I-35 corridor between Austin and Dallas and saw the town as a growing opportunity. He pointed to ongoing residential development, a new high school under construction across the street, and other incoming and recently opened national brands in the area as signs of momentum.
“Salado landed right in the center of that,” Khan said to What Now Austin, referring to the gap in the corridor. He added that the area’s growth and younger demographic shift made it an appealing fit for the brand.
Khan also shared more about STN Chicken Group’s background and why the company chose to franchise with Golden Chick. He said he was drawn to Golden Chick because of its growth trajectory, unit economics, franchise support, menu variety, and what he sees as the brand’s best-in-class food quality.
STN Chicken Group already operates several other Golden Chick locations in the Austin area, including restaurants in Dripping Springs, South Austin, and Oak Hill. Khan said the company plans to continue expanding across Central Texas as additional opportunities arise.
The chain was founded in San Marcos, Texas, in 1967 as Golden Fried Chicken and began franchising in 1972. The name officially changed to Golden Chick in 1993, after the Parmerlee family — which acquired the business in 1989 — rebranded and modernized the chain.
According to QSR Magazine, in 2025, Golden Chick opened 23 new restaurants, setting a new all-time brand record for annual openings, and entered 2026 with a sizable number of additional locations already projected to open. The chain now operates more than 250 locations across Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Kansas, with openings also planned for Arkansas, Missouri, and Arizona.
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Editor’s note: STN Chicken Group connected with What Now Austin after the story’s initial publication and shared additional details about the project, including its projected opening timeline, the company’s expansion plans, and the reasoning behind selecting Salado for the new location.
