Guthrie's, which proudly claims to be "America's Original Chicken Finger Restaurant," is returning to The Classic City. A new Guthrie's is opening at 3465 Jefferson Road where it will be situated in a roughly 2,500 square foot endcap space previously occupied by Dairy Queen, in a building it will share with a Subway and JP Marathon gas station and convenience store. The new Guthrie's marks the return of the Auburn-based chain to Athens after a nearly two decade absence.
Both Raising Cane's and Zaxby's, which started in Statesboro in 1990 and is now based in Athens, trace their roots back to Guthrie's. Guthrie's, called by some "the godfather of the fried chicken tender," got its start in Haleyville, Alabama way back in 1965.
Despite their significant head start and to some, a superior product, Guthrie's is not nearly as big of a company as the chains it inspired.
According to the Guthrie's website, the company today includes 50 restaurants across seven states with three locations including the Athens outpost and another in East Cobb "coming soon." Guthrie's had a presence in eight states until earlier this year when its sole location in Ohio - in Cleveland - closed after 12 years in business. There are currently 11 Guthrie's in Georgia including outposts in Canton, Cumming, and the newest in Peachtree City, among others. The chain has in years past closed Atlanta area restaurants in Dunwoody and Peachtree Corners.
Raising Cane's, by comparison, which for years had just one Georgia location in Athens, is on a growth spurt and recently opened their second Atlanta area unit in Buford with plans for additional outposts in Woodstock and Snellville, among others. The chain earlier this year surpassed 700 units nationwide.
Zaxby's, which in late 2020 sold a majority interest to an affiliate of Goldman Sachs in a deal valued at $2 billion, today includes more than 900 locations but could surpass 1,000 locations by 2025. The chain operates more than 100 locations across Georgia including five in Athens, as well as outposts in neighboring Jefferson and Watkinsville, too.
Are you excited for the return of Guthrie's to Athens? Who do you think makes the best chicken tender? Will UGA make it three in a row this year?
Please share your thoughts below.
19 comments:
I just hope that they provide a better product than the new Guthrie's in Cumming does. At the Cumming location, the chicken tenders aren't trimmed of the non-edible tendon that runs through them. And the french fries are undercooked, even if you ask for them well done.
Canes/Zaxbys/Guthries are all basically the same. Zaxbys has a broader menu. If the others did anything to really stand out (some additional side choices, desserts) they might be more unique.
icymi super Chix has a top quality product that actually has better flavor than all of those mentioned above. As an added benefit, they are much lower in salt/sodium content than the others. The tenders are real tenders that are properly trimmed and prepared. And their fries are never undercooked, which is a Treat most fast food places have, and that they under cook fries. Not at super chicks. They also have a full range of sandwiches, tossing sauce, and as a bonus they have frozen custard! Yum Yum Yum.
Great to see Guthrie’s returning to Athens. Personally, I like their chicken fingers better than the other chicken finger chains.
Publix has the best tenders, hands down. These fast food places don't compare.
I remember eating at the Guthrie's on Baxter Street. The food was decent and very popular on Game Day, but nothing to get all that excited about. It seems strange that all these chicken finger places are opening at the same time. Why not consider a market with less competition? However, I suppose, Atlanta/Athens loves their fried chicken.
Chamblee location that shuttered had awful food , hope this place is better but better options for fried chicken everywhere.
So try Super Chix! You’re gonna love it! Because I’m the owner, and the last comments were from me! Surprise!!!!! Mwah!
Well at least the Super Chix owner is honest about his/her identity on here....LOL
Publix chicken tenders are extremely high in sodium. They taste like salt massive amounts of salt.
Hey Alex, at Al., Actually, that poster is not being honest because I posted the original one that he claims he posted right above his… And I am not the owner…
Or am I??
Like all these other chicken places are low sodium?!?!? Gimme a break!
You sure deserve it! It’s time you made it to the top!
I agree
I remember the Chamblee Guthrie‘s, the absolute worst service, and the worst food, it was like gas station food in the middle of Mississippi, not good, and I agree Publix chicken is soaked in salt, I don’t know why, and I’ve tried super Chix. It’s actually very good And the plain ones have very little salt. I think if Guthrie’s opened in like all the Texaco stations, they would succeed.
Based on this I compared the Pubix tenders to a tablespoon of salt. The salt was just salt, but the chicken tasted like chicken. So I disagree, they don’t just taste salt, its Chicken!!
I heard their chick is crap!
Glad to see Guthries back in Athens. The Baxter location was a dive but great on Sunday nights for dinner when the dining halls were closed if you lived in the freshman dorms. Not sure what was in their wing sauce, but you could take a black (tarnished) penny and make it look brand new just by dipping it into the sauce.
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