New local Meridian restaurant looks like a franchise. It’s not. But 5 more could open
As the saying goes, if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it’s probably a duck.
Unless it’s a deep-fried chicken.
Clucks Nashville Hot Chicken, which opens Friday, Oct. 15, at 3223 E. Louise Drive, suite 100, has the look and feel of a national franchise. It even has signs in the window that read like they were created by a pricey ad agency: “It’s your Clucky day.”
The scenario makes perfect sense. After all, Clucks is off Eagle Road in Meridian, an endless sea of chain restaurants.
But nope. Clucks is a locally created operation. Even if the business partners do plan to grow.
“Almost everyone that has come in has insisted we look like a franchise,” partner Kenneth Roek said in an email, “and we take that as a compliment. We want customers walking in and thinking we look clean, beautiful, and like we have our stuff together.”
“We hope to expand Clucks to six locations by the end of 2023,” he added.
Clucks offers a straightforward menu of Southern-inspired fare. Most recipes were created by Justin Roek, another Clucks partner.
The focus? Nashville hot chicken in various forms — served in a stylish, fast-casual setting.
“We have based the launch of this location on doing this the right way,” Kenneth Roek said, “not cutting corners, and creating a brand that portrays the high energy and professionalism we are aiming to give each and every patron that walks in the door.“
Sandwiches and wraps ($8.49 to $8.69, all prices subject to change) feature Nashville hot chicken either deep-fried or grilled. They come stacked with cole slaw and pickles, served either on a soft, buttered bun or tucked inside a flour tortilla.
There also are tacos ($9.95 for two, grilled or deep-fried), chicken strips ($9.95 for two to $14.95 for six, including cole slaw, pickles and Texas toast) and a couple of salads ($11.95, also either deep-fried or grilled).
Dial in your heat level by choosing from four sauces: Sweet & Spicy, Nashville Naked, Nashville Warm and Nashville Hot.
In addition to hot chicken, the menu will include a shrimp po’ boy, appetizers such as mac-and-cheese bites, and milkshakes.
Clucks is the second chicken-fueled restaurant to open in the Portico at Meridian, joining long-established franchise Buffalo Wild Wings.
Roek thinks takeout and delivery will make up the majority of Clucks’ business. Customers will be able to order online for pickup at clucksnashville.com. The restaurant will use Grubhub and DoorDash for delivery.
But if people do want to sit down in the 56-capacity restaurant? There’s one more franchise-style perk at Clucks. You can skip the counter and order with your smartphone.
“For the customer’s convenience, they can walk in and order with one of our amazing cashiers,” Roek said, “or just take a seat and order from the QR code at the table. We will bring everything directly to them if they choose that route, and they won’t even have to wait in line.”
▪ Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Clucks is closed Sundays.
This story was originally published October 12, 2021 at 1:39 PM.