Chicken Salad Chick Southwest Florida | Culinary Adventure

When Scott Pace first encountered a Chicken Salad Chick restaurant, he wasn't too keen on the idea. But with a little encouragement from his wife, Kendal Potesta, he stepped inside. Three seconds after tasting their chicken salad, he was hooked. That pivotal moment led the husband-and-wife duo to acquire franchise rights to bring six Chicken Salad Chick restaurants to Southwest Florida.

"Once I put that first bite in my mouth, it was a three-day-a-week habit, from there on out," Pace confessed. "We're making 12 different flavors, fresh from scratch, every single day. We only use the highest-quality part of the chicken, which is the tenderloin, and we steam it. And we have 12 different varieties to serve it in, whether it's in scoop form or it's on a sandwich. Whatever your pleasure is, we've got you covered."

With multiple locations already established, including one of the newest in Estero at 10151 Estero Town Commons Place Unit 201, Estero, FL 33928, Chicken Salad Chick offers a delightful menu at an accessible price point. Sandwich and side combos start at $9.29, featuring options like the "Classic Carol" as the base version of the chicken salad. Other variations include "Olivia's Old South" (sweet pickles and egg), "Fancy Nancy" (Fuji apples, seedless grapes, and pecans), "Cranberry Kelli" (dried and sweetened cranberries and slivered almonds), "Buffalo Barclay" (with Buffalo sauce), "Sassy Scott" (ranch, bacon, and shredded cheddar cheese), and more. The Fort Myers location even boasts a drive-thru and offers catering services for events.

Pace, with a finance background from Wall Street, and Potesta, who grew up around restaurants, saw potential in Chicken Salad Chick's unique concept. Founded by Stacy Brown in Alabama, Chicken Salad Chick began as a kitchen operation before evolving into a successful restaurant chain with over 300 locations.

"We knew their footprint, and we jumped in right away," Potesta explained. "We decided to sign up with Chicken Salad Chick in the middle of COVID. In the middle of the pandemic. When a lot of businesses were struggling, Scott and I made the really crazy decision to open six."

Join the flavorful journey at Chicken Salad Chick, where skepticism transformed into a thriving business venture driven by passion and commitment to quality.