Chicken Salad Chick to open in Germantown

Chicken Salad Chick will open its third Memphis-area location by the end of the year, according to officials with the company.

The store, in Germantown Collection across from Trader Joe’s, will be one tenant in a new building that is going up on the west side of the parking lot. The other tenant has not been announced, but it will be retail, according to Cameron Ross, Germantown economic community and development director.

“We’ll be there late this fall, in time for the holiday season,” said Tom Carr, vice president of marketing for the chain.

The East Memphis Chicken Salad Chick location at Poplar and Perkins currently serves customers from Germantown. Carr has heard positive remarks and excitement about the Germantown location.

“Germantown fit the demographic,” Carr said of areas the company likes to open its stores. “The trading area market of Germantown — it seems like a perfect area.”

He is excited to have a space close to the long-awaited Trader Joe’s, which is set to open in September.

“The Trader Joe’s brand aligns with who our customers are,” he said. “Being able to open on the heels of Trader Joe’s being there, that location was certainly appealing. They’ll be a great partner and anchor for (Germantown Collection).”

Carr hopes to have five or six stores in the Memphis area. The company is exploring options in Collierville, but there are no concrete plans.

Scott Overstreet, owner of the Smoothie King in Germantown Collection, said businesses have suffered from the lack of parking due to construction.

But he’s looking forward to new businesses revitalizing the shopping center.

Overstreet said stores like Trader Joe’s and Chicken Salad Chick appeal to those looking to eat healthy and the customers are similar to his. He is excited for the stores to open and bring customers back to the area.

“Chicken Salad Chick is a good franchise,” he said. “It’s a good healthy choice.”

Carr hopes to decorate the Germantown store with black and white photos of significant places in Germantown.

Many of the Auburn, Alabamabased chain’s restaurants are franchised, but each location in the Memphis area is company-owned, as are about a quarter of the company’s stores.

Carr is hopeful guests will feel a sense of ownership in the store.

“We want our guests to feel like it’s their Chicken Salad Chick,” he said.

Although an opening date hasn’t been set, Carr is looking forward to the grand opening during which the store will give away free chicken salad for a year to the first 100 customers.