The Budlong Hot Chicken has officially reopened four of its locations in Chicagoland, with more on the way.
Company founder Jared Leonard opened the restaurant in 2015 and announced last year he was looking around for buyers. The company was then bought by Craveworthy Brands, owned by former Jimmy John’s CEO Gregg Majewski. The company officially reopened on April 6 in Lincoln Square, Lincoln Park, Hyde Park, and in the Loop within the Urban Space Food Hall, according to Block Club Chicago. The Budlong Hot Chicken is offering $3 original chicken sandwiches all day at all its locations for the grand return.
Not only is the new ownership reviving the brand, but it also has plans to grow in the area and elsewhere. Majewski tells Crain’s Chicago Business three new locations will open in Lakeview, Oak Brook, and Dallas in the next few months. He says a big reason he wanted to acquire this brand was its size needed to open numerous locations quickly. The company plans to introduce a rewards program and an updated website in the near future, hoping to renovate existing stores for a streamlined take-out and third-party pickup process.
“My culinary team will be continually working on keeping the menu fresh and current in the trends today and pushing the envelope on what we can do with toppings, sides, and overall flavors of our food,” Majewski tells Crain’s. “Expect to see more changes to our menu regularly while always keeping what made Budlong Budlong, which is America’s first true Southern chicken spot. We are so much more than hot chicken.”
Majewski served as Jimmy John’s CEO from 1998 to 2003 and helped expand the company from 33 to 300 stores with franchisees. He went on to become CEO of Mongolian Concepts Restaurant Group, which owns and franchises more than 75 locations of Genghis Grill, FlatTop Grill, and bd’s Mongolian Grill. Eventually, Majewski created Craveworthy, a parent company overseeing Wing It On, The Budlong, Krafted Burger + Tap, and Lucky Cat Poke Company.
