Layne's Chicken Fingers is about to make a loud entrance into Raider Country. The Texas-born chain will open its first Lubbock restaurant on Saturday, June 13, 2026, and the debut is doing double duty as a milestone: it will be Layne's 50th location in the U.S. To pack the dining room from day one, the brand is dangling a big hook for fans. The first 50 dine-in customers will score Free Layne's for a Year, and another 50 guests during opening week will walk away with the same prize. The move fits neatly into Layne's wider push to grow beyond its College Station roots into new college towns and regional markets.
Layne's Hits 50th Location With Giveaway
According to a company news release via PR Newswire, the new Layne's will open at 7902 University Ave. in Lubbock, and the chain is pairing the local launch with a nationwide "How You Layne's" social contest alongside its opening-week giveaways. The release notes that the first 50 dine-in guests on opening day will receive Free Layne's for a Year, while 50 additional guests during the rest of opening week will be surprised with the same deal. The Lubbock spot is set to serve the brand's full menu and will use the grand opening as a celebration of hitting the 50-restaurant mark.
From College Station To Raider Country
Founded in 1994 in College Station, Layne's has evolved from a local favorite into a fast-growing franchise, as reported by MySA. MySA reports that the Lubbock location was first floated in December 2025, when company filings revealed plans to convert an existing roughly 3,000-square-foot restaurant site less than five miles from Texas Tech University. That kind of close-to-campus address has been a recurring theme in Layne's expansion strategy.
Franchise Push Is Picking Up Pace
The company has been telling investors that the growth is just getting started. Layne's said it awarded more than 50 future restaurants in the first quarter of 2026, signed 16 new leases and has more than 30 additional openings planned for the rest of 2026, according to an update posted to PR Newswire. The Lubbock restaurant will be operated by C5 Restaurants, described in the release as the largest developer in the Layne's system, with a 55-unit pipeline across Texas and Arkansas. The company also noted it recently earned its first spot on the Franchise 500 list, signaling a rising national profile.
Campus Play And Community Buzz
MySA reports that Layne's has signed on as an NIL partner with Texas Tech Athletics, and the company said Red Raider student-athletes Amier Boyd, Corey Platt, Ben Roberts and John Curry will be on-site for the opening-day festivities. In the runup to launch, community pages and local outlets in Lubbock have tracked construction progress, while social media posts from students point to strong early interest. MySA adds that, if College Station and now Lubbock are any indication, college towns remain prime territory for the brand.
What To Expect
The Lubbock menu is set to feature Layne's hand-breaded chicken finger meals, Texas toast-stacked sandwiches, crinkle-cut fries and a lineup of house sauces, according to the chain's site. Hours and ordering options for the new restaurant are listed on Layne's Lubbock location page and through the brand's delivery partners for anyone who prefers to skip the opening-day lines and still get their chicken fix.
