Amber Sutton | asutton@al.com
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Lucy Berry | lberry@al.com
12 things you might not know about Chicken Salad Chick
When it comes to chicken salad, it's hard to find a restaurant with more tasty options than Alabama's own Chicken Salad Chick restaurants.
What started out as a simple business in founder Stacy Brown's kitchen in 2008 has turned into chain eatery that is beloved across the southeast states thanks to its 15 varieties of freshly-made chicken salad.
Want to learn more about the restaurant and its beginnings? Here's 12 things you might not know about Chicken Salad Chick.
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The basket on the arm of the chick in the Chicken Salad Chick logo is based on the basket founder Stacy Brown carried to deliver chicken salad door-to-door when she first started the business out of her home kitchen.
Tamika Moore/AL.com
Chicken Salad Chick Fun Fact #1
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Founder Stacy Brown believed teachers and hairstylists were the gateway to the community, so in an attempt to build an original customer base, she placed a bowl of chicken salad in the teacher's lounge at Ogletree Elementary School in Auburn, Ala.
Chicken Salad Chick
Chicken Salad Chick Fun Fact #2
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Tamika Moore/AL.com
Chicken Salad Chick Fun Fact #3
Chicken Salad Chick would never have become a restaurant if it wasn't for a call from Stan Upon at the Lee County Health Department. When Upton told Brown she wasn't allowed to run the business from her kitchen, the decision to open a take-out place was made.
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Chicken Salad Chick
Chicken Salad Chick Fun Fact #4
Stacy’s late husband and co-founder, Kevin Brown, came up with the idea she should name the chicken salad flavors after real women in Kevin & Stacy’s lives, hence the “chicks”.
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Tamika Moore/AL.com
Chicken Salad Chick Fun Fact #5
There was no dining room at the original Chicken Salad Chick location until customers staged a “sit-in” by literally sitting on the floor or anywhere there was space. This led the Browns to add a dining area.
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Lucy Berry | lberry@al.com
Chicken Salad Chick Fun Fact #6
The decision to close on Sundays was so that the Browns could have one day dedicated to family time. This became a great benefit to others when they added employees and franchised.
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Lucy Berry | lberry@al.com
Chicken Salad Chick Fun Fact #7
There is one flavor of chicken salad on the menu that Stacy’s never tasted, which is Dixie Chick. Brown said she’s not a fan of onions, but happy to make it for people who enjoy them.
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Chicken Salad Chick Fun Fact #8
The intent of the black and white landmark photos in every restaurant is to promote feelings of community and of being “at home” in Chicken Salad Chick dining rooms.
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Chicken Salad Chick Fun Fact #9
The chicken salad called Kickin’ Kay Lynne originated when an employee mixed three chicken salads together by accident. Stacy’s first reaction was “oh gross," but once she tasted how well the combination of buffalo sauce, ranch, bacon, cheddar cheese and jalapenos went together, Kickin’ Kay Lynne was born.
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Tamika Moore/AL.com
Chicken Salad Chick Fun Fact #10
Stacy Brown’s childhood best-friend named Scott petitioned for a flavor in her name, but since Scott is a boy’s name, she changed it to Sassy Scotty for the menu.
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Chicken Salad Chick Foundation
Chicken Salad Chick Fun Fact #11
The Chicken Salad Chick Foundation, founded by Kevin Brown during his own battle with cancer to raise money for cancer research and to feed hungry families, hosted the largest stadium concert ever in Alabama in 2016. The second Music & Miracles Superfest is set for April 2017.
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Chicken Salad Chick Fun Fact #12
There are 62 Chicken Salad Chick locations, including restaurants in Texas, Tennessee, Louisiana, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and, of course, Alabama.
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