A Major Milestone for Layne’s Chicken Fingers in West Texas
Lubbock, get ready. You are about to become home to something incredibly massive. The Texas-born chicken finger franchise is bringing a major milestone right to the community – specifically, its 50th restaurant in the country. Layne’s Chicken Fingers will celebrate the official grand opening of its very first Lubbock location on June 13 at 7902 University Ave. This represents a landmark moment for the fast-growing, 50+ location chicken finger brand as it opens its 50th restaurant nationwide and continues its rapid rise from a beloved regional favorite into a true national contender in the fast-casual space. To put it simply, things just got a whole lot crispier in West Texas.
To properly celebrate reaching restaurant No. 50, Layne’s is going all out with some truly incredible giveaways for the community. The first 50 dine-in guests who walk through the doors on opening day will score Free Layne’s for a Year. Yes, you read that correctly – a whole year of free food. Because one round of fun isn’t enough, another 50 guests throughout the rest of the opening week will be surprised with the exact same prize.
The celebration is also turning into a nationwide moment through the launch of the “How You Layne’s” social media contest. Fans everywhere are invited to show off their favorite menu orders, signature sauces, secret hacks, and go-to dining traditions on Instagram and TikTok. Fifty lucky winners across the country will also take home Free Layne’s for a Year, ensuring that a milestone this epic deserves a celebration that everyone can be a part of.
The party doesn’t stop with the giveaways. The Lubbock opening also marks the official launch of an exciting new partnership with Texas Tech Athletics. Red Raiders student-athletes Amier Boyd, Corey Platt, Ben Roberts, and John Curry will be on-site for the opening day festivities, helping to welcome guests and officially introduce the brand to Raider Country.
“This opening means a lot to us,” said Garrett Reed, CEO of Layne’s Chicken Fingers. “Fifty restaurants is a huge milestone, but what really stands out is how we got here: great franchise partners, strong communities, and a lot of people who just really love chicken fingers. Lubbock felt like the perfect place to celebrate that.”
And the brand isn’t slowing down anytime soon. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, the company awarded more than 50 future restaurants across the country, signed 16 new leases, and continued expanding with both new and existing franchise partners in key growth markets. Earlier this year, the business also earned its first-ever spot on the prestigious Franchise 500 list, signaling its growing national presence in the highly competitive fast-casual chicken market.
Rapid System Growth for Layne’s Chicken Fingers
The new Lubbock restaurant is operated by C5 Restaurants, a highly successful multi-brand QSR group led by Eli Cohen. This opening marks C5’s very first location in Texas, alongside their four existing Arkansas restaurants. The group holds the title of the largest developer in the entire system, with a massive 55-unit development pipeline across Texas and Arkansas, representing the single biggest commitment in franchise history.
“What we’ve built at C5 is all about execution,” said Cohen, Owner and Managing Member of C5 Restaurants. “Strong operations, disciplined growth, and teams that know how to run restaurants at a high level. We believe in the Layne’s model, and we’re excited to bring that approach to Texas in a big way.”
What to Expect at the New Layne’s Chicken Fingers
Known for its hand-breaded chicken fingers, iconic signature sauces, and Texas toast-stacked sandwiches, the company has built a fiercely loyal following by keeping things simple, bold, and seriously craveable. The new Lubbock restaurant will feature the complete, full menu, including:
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Core Entrees: Hand-breaded chicken finger meals, standalone sandwiches, and flavor-packed wraps.
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Sides and Sweets: Thick milkshakes along with a full lineup of signature sauces like house, jalapeño ranch, honey mustard, BBQ, and gravy.
This opening marks the first location in Lubbock and serves as another major step in an accelerating nationwide expansion, with more than 30 additional openings planned throughout the remainder of 2026. Let’s just say, Lubbock is about to meet its new favorite chicken finger spot. To see what the crunch is all about, guests can visit LaynesChickenFingers.com.
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