Zaxby's, the Georgia-born chain known for its hand-breaded Chicken Fingerz and signature sauces, is gearing up to plant a serious flag in Greater Cincinnati. The brand has signed a development agreement that targets three to four locations around the metro, with franchise partners now sorting out exactly where those restaurants will land. The push is part of a broader Ohio play that positions Zaxby's for entries into Dayton and Columbus as well.
According to the Cincinnati Business Courier, the agreement, filed on April 20, calls for three to four Greater Cincinnati sites. Franchise partners are expected to handle site selection and build-out. Exact addresses and opening dates have not been released, and the report did not name the operators who will develop the Cincinnati stores.
Earlier moves in Ohio offer clues to how this next wave will be staffed. In November 2025, Zaxby's signed a 10-store development agreement that listed Dayton and Columbus as target markets, according to Franchising.com. That deal identified a multi-unit operator to open locations across the Miami Valley and central Ohio, signaling a coordinated Midwest expansion. Taken together, the two agreements suggest Zaxby's is methodically lining up operators and territories across the state.
Closer to home, Liberty Township's Freedom Pointe project, a mixed-use development anchored by Costco, has already been floated as an early Zaxby's landing spot after township trustees signed off on plans, WCPO reports. Coverage of that proposal outlined a roughly 56-seat restaurant with a drive-through on the Freedom Pointe parcel. Developers told township officials that construction timing will hinge on permitting and final site plans. If it moves forward, that location could become the chain's first visible foothold in Butler County.
According to the Cincinnati Business Courier, Zaxby's now operates more than 1,000 locations across 22 states, a milestone reached alongside a flurry of multi-unit deals and prototype tests. That national momentum provides the backdrop for the new Ohio agreements and helps explain why the chain is working with several local development partners at the same time.
What Cincinnati Could See
For residents, the most noticeable effects in the near term are likely to be more takeout and drive-thru options and a series of hiring waves as franchisees staff up new restaurants. Which neighborhoods ultimately get a Zaxby's will depend on traffic access, zoning approvals, and suitable real estate, factors that can stretch development timelines from months into a year or more. Anyone tracking the rollout will want to watch township and city planning agendas for site-plan filings and public hearings.
Next Steps
City and township permit applications, lease signings, and franchisee announcements will eventually reveal the exact addresses and opening schedules. Those public records typically provide the first official confirmation of where a chain like Zaxby's is headed. The Cincinnati Business Courier was first to report the development agreement, and additional local coverage is likely to follow as permits and site plans start to appear.
