PENNSYLVANIA (WHTM) — A fast-casual chicken salad restaurant concept just announced plans to expand into several key markets, which include right here in Pennsylvania.

Chicken Salad Chick, a restaurant franchise known for its southern-style chicken salad, has announced a strategic expansion throughout the Atlantic region with several new multi-unit franchisees.

According to Chicken Salad Chick, this next wave of expansion includes growth across key markets in Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.

Here in the Keystone State, Chicken Salad Chick is welcoming two new pairs of franchisees, which include:

• Jacob & Sabrina Longley – Pittsburgh, PA
  • Entering the dynamic Northeast market, the Longleys are launching in an area that is undergoing a resurgence of entrepreneurship, healthcare, and lifestyle-focused brands.
• Amanda & Ernest Greenford – Allentown, PA
  • The Greenfords will focus on a family-focused area experiencing rapid suburbanization and economic revitalization.

“With strong in-migration, suburban growth, and a deep-rooted appreciation for community-centered brands, the Atlantic region offers ideal conditions for franchise success,” Mark Verges, Vice President of Franchise Development at Chicken Salad Chick, said. “We’re proud to grow alongside exceptional multi-unit operators who are helping us bring the Chick experience to more neighborhoods than ever before.”

According to Chicken Salad Chick’s website, these Pennsylvania locations would become the first to debut in the Commonwealth.

Chicken Salad Chick was first founded in Auburn, Alabama, by Stacy and Kevin Brown back in 2008. Today, the chicken salad franchise has grown to more than 305 restaurant locations across 22 states.