Queen Creek, Arizona is about to get a taste of Georgia's famed chicken as Zaxby's gears up to open its doors in The Vineyard Towne Center. The chain, known for its chicken and signature sauces, is setting up shop with franchise partners Brian and Jessica Nelson. "Zaxby’s is excited to enter the Phoenix-area market this year," a Zaxby's spokesperson said in a statement obtained by ABC15.

The arrival of Zaxby’s marks a significant shift in the local fast-food scene, often dominated by the likes to exclusively serve their own versions of chicken fingers. Food enthusiasts have waited with anticipation to indulge in Zaxby's menu offerings—including their playfully named "mealz, fingerz and wings mealz, big zalads"—adding a unique southern twist to the Queen Creek dining landscape. The preferred competitor has largely been Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers. The various Raising Cane's locations peppered around Phoenix have long been the go-to, as noted by reviews on Yelp, where patrons frequently make comparisons to Zaxby's while heaping praise onto their chicken finger meals.

Vineyard Towne Center, where Zaxby's will be located at 37666 N Gantzel Road, is becoming quite the hub for food and retail. A news release mentioned by ABC15, that the center will also soon be home to McDonald's, Better Buzz Coffee, a Sprouts Farmers Market, and several other businesses catered toward the needs and tastes of the community.

And let's not forget, Zaxby's expansion is only one part of a broader growth happening this year. Spring is set to bring a plethora of new openings including Keep It Cut Hair Salon, MOD Pizza, and more to the Vineyard Towne Center. The fall is expected to welcome even further additions such as Ono Hawaiian BBQ and Mountain America Credit Union. For now, chicken lovers can look forward to the unique Zaxby's experience—with chicken "mealz" that are bound to shake up the local dining scene.