Zaxby's is officially planting its flag at the Chesapeake Overlook development in Perryville, with construction underway on a new restaurant that will bring the chain's Chicken Fingerz, Zalads, and a twin drive-thru to Cecil County. The single-story spot is planned to seat roughly 30 diners and will feature a dual drive-thru setup aimed squarely at Great Wolf Lodge guests and I-95 drivers looking for a quick chicken fix. Local operator Stradford Empowerment Group is steering the project and is eyeing a late-November to early-December 2026 opening.
Stradford's managing partner, Damon Stinger Sr., has been clear that this is not just another highway pit stop in the portfolio. As he put it, the group is "becoming parts of these communities" as it moves into Maryland, framing the Perryville build as more than a simple business play and leaning into the idea of community investment, according to WhatNow.
On paper, the project shows up in the town's October 20, 2025, planning commission minutes as File No. SP2025-02. It covers a 1.574-acre pad on Overlook Court and received preliminary approval with conditions related to stormwater, utilities, and signage, according to the Town of Perryville. Stewart Properties presented the proposal and noted that the parcel sits in the town's CEMUD zone, one of several retail pads carved out in the broader Chesapeake Overlook plan.
Why Chesapeake Overlook matters
Chesapeake Overlook is already a busy little ecosystem just off Interstate 95, anchored by Great Wolf Lodge and Hollywood Casino, with a Wawa open on one of the pads to keep the fuel, coffee, and hoagies flowing. Brokers say that mix translates into steady traveler traffic, the kind of footfall every drive-thru dreams about. Marketing materials show several fast-food pads in play, with Zaxby's pegged for one of the higher-profile corners in the development, according to Crexi.
Where Zaxby's fits the broader push
The Perryville project plugs neatly into Zaxby's nationwide growth play. The chain has been ramping up its roll-out and experimenting with a Modern Farmhouse prototype that leans on flexible footprints and dual-lane drive-thrus, a design that lines up with what is planned for Chesapeake Overlook. Industry coverage in QSR Magazine notes that Zaxby's is headed into 2026 with more than 1,000 locations and plans for dozens of additional openings, which helps explain why a travel-heavy I-95 interchange suddenly looks like prime chicken territory.
Before anyone orders a combo, there is still some paperwork to grind through. Final engineering sign-offs, health department approvals, and utility tie-ins are on the to-do list before permits are fully locked in, according to the Town of Perryville. Developers and franchise partners say the build is expected to add local jobs and give I-95 travelers one more reason to pull off at Perryville, and a May 4 ceremonial event marked the project's start, as reported by WMAR-2 News.
