An entrepreneurial family with a mix of restaurant and real estate experience is entering the franchise space, signing with Zaxby’s to develop three units in Maryland.
Curtis Snyder, who built a career as an attorney, left the firm he was with two years ago to go into the real estate business with his father-in-law, Thomas Mitchell, who’s been a broker for 50 years. Along with Snyder’s wife, Teresa, who’s pursuing a master’s degree in business management, the trio went beyond real estate by opening three independent restaurants.
“We became interested in expanding our portfolio from there and were looking for something in the chicken market,” Snyder said. “The growth in that category is unbelievable, and we also wanted to get in with a franchise because you have a blueprint already laid out.”
Zaxby’s franchisee Curtis Snyder
Picking the brand was an easy choice, too, as Snyder became a fast fan of the chicken concept during a stop at a Zaxby’s in South Carolina while visiting his brother.
“As soon as we tasted the food, it was a done deal,” Snyder said. “We were hooked, and the flavor profile they had with their sauces offers something for everybody.”
Before making the leap to franchisee, though, Snyder said his family did their due diligence, and came away impressed with what the Atlanta-based brand had to offer for operators.
“Zaxby’s is going through a revitalization right now, and the way they’re moving aligns perfectly with where we want to be in the future,” Snyder said. “Another thing that really stood out to us with them was the single protein on the menu, which is the chicken. I think that it optimizes the menu and simplifies the operations of the restaurant. It allows our team to focus on creating a great product.”
Founded in 1990, Zaxby’s has more than 940 locations in 17 states. In 2023, the brand’s total sales topped $2.5 billion, up from $1.9 billion in 2019. The brand’s unit count has also steadily increased, and its push along the East Coast marks an effort to develop beyond the company’s southeastern footprint.
“We’ve been a super-regional brand for a long time,” said Bert Lane, Zaxby’s vice president of development. “So, as those markets have continued to fill in, we’re looking at new markets going up along the northeast corridor. We’ve stretched into Virginia, and from there we’ve started looking at the D.C. and Baltimore metro areas, and Maryland overall.”
Lane said Zaxby’s is also looking westward, with development in Phoenix and Las Vegas, with Colorado to follow. As the brand goes into new markets, Lane said Zaxby’s is seeking franchisees with good a business background and involvement in their communities.
“We look for candidates that have industry experience and grit, who’re not afraid to get their hands dirty,” Lane said. “Franchisees who have a track record in knowing how to build, develop and be involved in their business every day. That doesn’t mean they’ll be working on French fries or breading chicken every day, but we want them in there setting standards.”
Zaxby’s Vice President of Development Bert Lane
That mix of experience that the latest franchisees bring to the table is a great example of what Zaxby’s is looking for, said Lane, who highlighted the team’s knowledge of real estate and restaurant operations.
“Tom’s involvement with development and Curtis running those restaurants showed us that entrepreneurial spirit,” Lane said. “They know how to build things from the ground up. Finding a candidate like that, and with them already being attracted to us, is ideal.”
Snyder is excited for the partnership as well, and said the family has aspirations of growing larger in the future, but that opening three units was a good start. Snyder said they’re developing in three separate cities in eastern Maryland where the family owns existing real estate.
“We have what we call the Route 50 Ocean Gateway, which leads from Baltimore all the way down through Maryland,” Snyder said. “We’re setting up in great locations along there that will be convenient to both tourists coming down and people from the area.”
Snyder said the first restaurant is expected to open in late 2024. The initial investment to open a Zaxby’s is between $1.4 million and $3.32 million.