Chicken Salad Chick Expands into Nevada with Six-Unit Franchise Deal
Event summary
- Chicken Salad Chick signs six-unit franchise agreement in Las Vegas, marking its first entry into Nevada.
- Husband-and-wife team Mark and Cayla Rubalcaba will lead the development, bringing hospitality and local market expertise.
- Nevada is one of five new states opened for development in 2025, with three in the high-growth Southwest region.
- Chicken Salad Chick awarded nearly 100 new restaurant deals and opened 42 locations across 13 states in 2025.
The big picture
Chicken Salad Chick's entry into Nevada underscores its strategic shift from the Southeast to the high-growth Southwest market. The brand's rapid expansion, with nearly 100 new deals in 2025, highlights its appeal to multi-unit operators and its ability to maintain consistent guest experiences across diverse markets. The focus on the Southwest suggests a long-term play to become a nationally recognized concept, leveraging regional growth dynamics and a loyal customer base.
What we're watching
- Market Penetration
- How Chicken Salad Chick will establish itself in the competitive Las Vegas market.
- Franchise Performance
- Whether the Rubalcaba team can replicate the brand's success in a new geographic region.
- Southwest Expansion
- The pace at which Chicken Salad Chick can scale in the Southwest, given its focus on Arizona, Nevada, and Utah.