Hundreds of hungry locals packed the sidewalk Tuesday morning along State Road 100, staking out spots in front of Palm Coast's new Chicken Salad Chick. A few diehards reportedly camped overnight so they could be among the first inside when the fast-casual chain officially opened on June 2, 2026. The line kept snaking through the lunch hour as customers worked their way through the roster of chicken-salad flavors, while franchise owners Darin and Lyndsey Melvin handled ribbon-cutting duties and greeted the crowd.
Speaking at the ceremony, Palm Coast-Flagler Regional Chamber president John Phillips called the grand opening "a great day for Palm Coast," as reported by Flagler News Weekly. That outlet noted the Palm Coast store is the Melvins' seventh Chicken Salad Chick location and opened with more than 40 employees on the roster. The same coverage cited company marketing director Ervin Hernandez, who pointed to community involvement as a core part of the brand's identity.
Where It Is And What To Expect
The new restaurant sits at 5650 East Hwy 100, Suite 114, with the Palm Coast-Flagler Regional Chamber recording a 10:30 a.m. ribbon-cutting on its calendar, according to the Palm Coast-Flagler Regional Chamber. A corporate announcement detailed June 2 grand opening promos, including a "free chicken salad for a year" offer for the first 100 guests in line, and confirmed the location will serve dine-in, takeout, delivery and catering customers, per PR Newswire. The release also laid out a full week of opening specials for early visitors.
Owners Expand Florida Footprint
Franchisees Darin and Lyndsey Melvin told Flagler News Weekly that Palm Coast had been on their radar for years, so this debut is a long-planned move in their Florida expansion. The outlet reported that the timeline was slowed by an extended real estate search while the couple focused on other markets, including a recent ground-up opening in Lake City. Lyndsey said the concept's menu and largely daytime schedule make it "a great place to work" for staff looking for more traditional hours and fewer late nights.
Community And Jobs
Company leaders say community giving is baked into the brand's growth plan. Corporate materials highlight that the CSC Foundation supports CURE Childhood Cancer along with local food banks. The chain used its Palm Coast pre-opening events to raise money for CURE and to introduce itself to local organizations that might tap the restaurant for catering, according to PR Newswire. On the ground, the opening has meant dozens of new jobs and one more lunchtime option along a busy stretch of State Road 100.
What This Means For Palm Coast
Local business advocates say the arrival of Chicken Salad Chick is another sign that the SR 100 corridor is still gaining steam. The added foot traffic is expected to spill over to neighboring shops and other eateries in the same complex. The Palm Coast-Flagler Regional Chamber promoted the ribbon-cutting and framed the launch as another vote of confidence in the area economy, according to the Palm Coast-Flagler Regional Chamber. Early turnout suggests the new spot is already working its way into the regular rotation for nearby workers and families.
