The city issued a mobility fee calculation certificate for Slim Chickens to develop a restaurant in Glen Kernan Park, which appears to be the franchise’s first Jacksonville location.
NFL veteran linebacker Angelo Crowell is the franchise owner.
The Fayetteville, Arkansas-based fast-casual restaurant franchise serves chicken wings and tenders, chicken and waffles, chicken sandwiches, wraps, salads, sides, fries, kids’ meals, family meals and more.
Slim Chickens said it has distinguished itself in the “better-chicken” segment by offering high-quality food and 17 housemade dipping sauces.
The city calculated a fee of $92,207 to mitigate the traffic impact for a 3,220-square-foot restaurant on 1.1 acres, now vacant, along Hodges Boulevard at northwest Hodges and Butler boulevards in Glen Kernan Park.
Maverick Engineering of Saint Johns is the agent and civil engineer.
Tallahassee-based Kalo Holdings LLC, managed by Angelo and Kimberly Crowell, is the property owner and restaurant operator. They are anticipated to bring up to a dozen to the area.
As the franchise owners, the Crowells, through Kalo Holdings, paid almost $1.44 million on Feb. 13 in Glen Kernan Park to develop the restaurant. SmartBank in Tallahassee issued a mortgage for $934,362.
Glen Kernan Park LLC sold the property.
Crowell spent seven years in the National Football League with the Buffalo Bills (2003-09) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2009-10).
When he left the NFL, the Crowells founded Kalo Restaurant Group LLC, which owns and operates 40 Jersey Mike’s Subs in Florida, Alabama and Georgia with plans for more.
Angelo and Kimberly Crowell registered Kalo Restaurant Group LLC with the state in October 2009 and Kalo Holdings LLC in May 2012.
Clint Murphy, president of Jacksonville-based Murphy Land and Retail Services Inc., represents the Crowells as the approved Slim Chickens operators for Northeast Florida in the site search.
Murphy said previously the Crowells want to open about 12 stores in the area.
Slim Chickens was founded in 2003.
There are nine restaurants in Florida locations among more than 200 units in 33 states. There are 11 in the United Kingdom and one in Kuwait International Airport.
The closest restaurant to Jacksonville is in Tallahassee.
Slimchickens.com lists 10 more locations in nine states as coming soon, but Jacksonville is not identified.
Slimchickensfranchise.com says it has more than 1,200 units in development.
The Franchising.com trade website reported in August 2018 that the Crowells opened their first Jersey Mike’s Subs in November 2010 as Crowell left the NFL.
At the time of the report, the Crowells owned 12 Jersey Mike’s in Florida, Georgia and Alabama, and had plans to expand to 50 within the following three years, and double that in the next 10.
That was pre-pandemic.
The WTXL.com news site reported Oct. 13, 2022, that the Crowells were opening the first Slim Chickens in Tallahassee, Kimberly Crowell’s hometown.
The Crowells had opened their first Jersey Mike’s in the city in 2010.
On Feb. 1, 2023, Slim Chickens announced the new restaurant opening in Tallahassee by operator Kalo Restaurant Group.
The 48.5-acre Glen Kernan Park is under development for residential and retail uses.
Retail and commercial projects planned there include a Gate Petroleum Co. convenience store and car wash; a Culver’s restaurant; and an Embassy Suites hotel.
Jacksonville-based RISE: A Real Estate Company is the residential developer.