Chicken Salad Chick is expanding into Northeast Ohio with its first Cleveland-area restaurant, scheduled to open August 25 at Westgate Shopping Center in Fairview Park. The fast-casual chain is using a high-profile grand-opening campaign to introduce the brand to local diners and establish an early presence in the market.
The opening promotion is designed to draw significant traffic. The first 100 guests will receive free chicken salad for a year, while additional giveaways throughout opening week will include branded tote bags, tumblers, and other merchandise. The company is positioning the launch as both a restaurant opening and a community event intended to encourage repeat visits beyond the first day.
The new location is owned by Doug and Angela Fitch, who bring nearly 40 years of combined experience in food service and sales. The couple said their decision to join the franchise system was inspired by a visit to Florida, where they first encountered the brand and saw an opportunity to introduce its Southern-style menu and hospitality-focused approach to the Cleveland area.
Chicken Salad Chick President Scott Deviney said the company views Cleveland’s dining scene as a strong fit for the concept, citing the region’s active restaurant market and appetite for distinctive fast-casual offerings. The Fairview Park restaurant is expected to serve a broad customer base that includes local families, shoppers, and office workers in the surrounding commercial district.
The brand is also emphasizing its community involvement through support of the CSC Foundation, which focuses on hunger relief and local charitable initiatives. Company leaders say that connection to community causes remains an important part of the franchise’s identity as it enters new markets.
Restaurant openings increasingly rely on coordinated local marketing to sustain momentum after the ribbon cutting. Through Gorilla Dash, franchise operators can organize launch campaigns, promotional offers, and customer engagement activities using Competitions and Promotions, helping new locations maintain visibility and build stronger customer relationships during their early growth phase.
