Construction plans are in review for Slim Chickens to develop a restaurant with a patio and drive-thru in Glen Kernan Park at an estimated project cost of $1.1 million.
The almost 3,000-square-foot project could comprise a stand-alone restaurant on 1.1 acres at 4955 Sweetgrass Place at northwest Hodges and Butler boulevards.
The Fayetteville, Arkansas-based fast-casual restaurant franchise serves made-to-order 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.
Harrison French and Associates Ltd. Of Bentonville, Arkansas, is the architect for the Jacksonville project. Maverick Engineering of Saint Johns is the agent and civil engineer. No contractor is listed.
In May 2023, the city issued a mobility fee calculation certificate for Slim Chickens to develop in Glen Kernan Park. 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 in Glen Kernan Park.
It appears to be the franchise’s first Jacksonville location in Northeast Florida.
As the franchise owners, Angelo and Kimberly Crowell, through Kalo Holdings LLC of Tallahassee, paid almost $1.44 million on Feb. 13, 2023, for the vacant Glen Kernan Park site to develop the restaurant. SmartBank in Tallahassee issued a mortgage for $934,362.
Glen Kernan Park LLC sold the property.
The construction permit application also shows that Tribe Management LLC, led by Rob Atkisson of Tallahassee, also is a franchisee. Atkisson’s LinkedIn page shows he has been a Slim Chickens franchisee since January 2023.
State corporate records show that Crowell and Atkisson are managers of Kalo Tribe Ventures LLC, created in 2021 and based in Tallahassee.
Crowell spent seven years in the National Football League with the Buffalo Bills (2003-09) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2009-10).
Angelo and Kimberly Crowell registered Kalo Restaurant Group LLC with the state in October 2009 and Kalo Holdings LLC in May 2012.
KaloCompanies.com says that since opening its first location in 2010, Team Kalo has grown its ownership of Jersey Mike’s Subs restaurant franchises to 68 stores in Alabama, Florida and Georgia with a goal to reach 75 units by the end of 2024.
In 2022 Kalo expanded to two brands, adding Slim Chickens to the Kalo Companies portfolio, now operating two in Tallahassee and five across the Florida Panhandle.
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. He said Atkisson is a minority franchise partner.
Murphy said previously the Crowells want to open about 12 stores in the area.
Slim Chickens was founded in 2003.
There are 14 restaurants in Florida among about 200 units in 34 states. There also are locations in the United Kingdom and other international sites.
The closest restaurant to Jacksonville is in Tallahassee.
Slimchickens.com lists four more locations in four states as coming soon, but Jacksonville is not identified.
Slimchickensfranchise.com says it has more than 1,200 units in development and more than 270 units opened.
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.
On Feb. 1, 2023, Slim Chickens announced the new restaurant opening in Tallahassee by operator Kalo Restaurant Group.
Glen Kernan Park
The 48.5-acre Glen Kernan Park is under development for residential and retail uses.
Retail and commercial projects open or planned there include a Gate Petroleum Co. convenience store and car wash; a Culver’s restaurant; an Embassy Suites hotel; a Dunkin’ coffee and doughnut shop; an Olive Garden Italian Kitchen restaurant; and more.
Jacksonville-based RISE: A Real Estate Company is the residential developer.
Rise: A Real Estate Co. announced Feb. 26, 204, that construction was underway on Rise @ Glen Kernan Park, a master-planned community for residents ages 55 and older.
It will have 74 private cottages and 234 apartments among one-bedroom, one-bath and two-bedroom, two-bath units.
The neighborhood will be tree-lined and have an 8-acre pond. Amenities include a clubhouse, fitness center, dog park and several indoor lounge areas.
There will be a yoga lawn, outdoor community kitchen, fire pit, pergola and a multipurpose lawn. There are plans for pickleball, bocce ball and shuffleboard courts.
Rise bought 29.8 acres at 13190 Glen Kernan Parkway for almost $18.6 million on Feb. 9, 2024, through Hodges Properties II LLC from Hodges Properties I LLC. Both LLCs are part of the Rise.
Rise took out a $61.45 million mortgage from Benefit Street Partners of New York.