Slim Chickens broke ground this week at its new Maricopa location. Construction vehicles and materials could be seen at the site on the northwest corner of Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway and Porter Road.

Dirt piles and construction equipment can be seen at the Slim Chickens site on the northwest corner of Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway and Porter Road on May 25, 2023. [Brian Petersheim Jr.]
This is the first action from the fast-casual chicken restaurant since it selected the site in May 2022. Construction was initially supposed to take place in early 2023 but franchisee Tom Barnett said increasing labor and construction costs hindered the restaurant’s development.

“Construction and employee issues are causing us to delay,” Barnett said in September 2022. “The employee situation is a mess.”

The city also welcomed the start of the restaurant’s construction.

“Slim Chickens is officially under construction,” said the city’s Marketing and Communications Manager Brandon LaVorgna. “Just like any business that opens in Maricopa, we welcome them and wish them success.”

The Arkansas-based restaurant features a Southern-style menu of chicken tenders, wings, sandwiches, chicken and waffles, salads and more.

An anticipated competition date was not available.

An aerial view of the Slim Chickens construction site, located on the northwest corner of North Porter Road and Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway on May 25, 2023. [Brian Petersheim Jr.]

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