Denver-based chicken chain Birdcall is gearing up to swoop into Northeast Ohio, with eyes on opening its first local restaurants in roughly the next 12 months. Known for tech-heavy ordering and made-to-order chicken, the fast-casual brand is treating Cleveland as a flagship stop in a broader Midwest push. Company leaders say would-be operators are already knocking, which means yet another player could soon be vying for space in the region’s already crowded chicken scene.
Justin Livingston, Birdcall’s vice president of franchise development, told reporters the company has seen “some really strong interest” in the Cleveland area and is actively courting franchise operators to develop local sites. He framed the move as part of a five-year expansion plan to add dozens of units across the Midwest, quipping that “the chicken wars continue to rage.” Those comments, along with the rough local timeline, were reported by Cleveland.com.
The Midwest push and scale
Birdcall is chasing what amounts to a full-on blitz across six Midwestern states, with an internal goal of about 100 franchised restaurants over the next five years. Fast Casual reports the chain currently runs 17 locations in Colorado, Arizona and Texas, and is seeking experienced franchise partners to speed things up in Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin. Industry coverage has flagged Ohio as one of the biggest growth targets in that mix.
Where in Ohio?
Internal maps shared with local reporters outline several potential sites across Northeast Ohio. Cleveland alone is penciled in for about five to six restaurants, and the brand has also tagged Cincinnati, Columbus and Toledo as priority markets. Local coverage indicates Birdcall expects to announce franchise deals in the region within the next 12 months, once it locks in operators and sites. Those details were reported by Cleveland.com.
What a Birdcall will look like
The company says a typical Birdcall comes in at around 2,300 square feet, with room for roughly 125 to 150 guests. Layouts are designed to flex, so restaurants can operate as freestanding buildings, end-cap spaces with drive-thrus, or smaller kiosks, depending on the site. Fast Casual adds that the brand is also eyeing nontraditional spots such as airports, college campuses, hospitals, and stadiums. Public filings and franchise materials cited in industry coverage list average unit volumes around $2.3 million and initial investments starting in the mid-six-figure range, which the company says translate to strong unit economics for operators.
Menu and neighborhood vibe
On the food side, Birdcall leans into an all-natural chicken menu featuring hand-cut tenders, gluten-friendly nuggets, eight signature sandwiches and one-off creations like the K-POP crispy chicken sandwich, built with Korean barbecue glaze and kimchi slaw. The company’s website also touts handspun milkshakes, draft beer and margaritas, while QSR Magazine highlighted the K-POP sandwich as part of the chain’s community-focused menu programs. Franchise materials and industry write-ups describe a family-friendly feel, with some locations adding extras such as arcade games and even putting greens to encourage guests to linger, according to Birdcall.
What it could mean for Cleveland
Local real estate watchers say another chicken concept hunting for prime corners could tighten competition for visible retail sites, but it could also bring a wave of construction and hospitality jobs if those franchises get built. The Cleveland Business Journal reported company materials that peg Ohio at roughly 20 locations in the longer term, while QSR Magazine described potential plans for “as many as 30 restaurants across Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Toledo,” a spread that shows estimates are still a bit fuzzy as the brand recruits local partners. For now, Birdcall is in scouting-and-signing mode, so exact addresses and opening dates will stay tentative until franchise developers ink deals and start moving through permits, as per Cleveland Business Journal and QSR Magazine.
Next steps
Birdcall is actively steering interested operators to its franchise portal, which lays out average unit volumes, investment ranges and details on the company’s Poncho tech stack that runs kiosks, kitchen display systems and drive-thru ordering. The franchising materials spotlight those AUVs, plus a support program that covers everything from site selection to marketing, and invite potential franchisees to request more information directly through the brand’s portal. Until agreements are formally signed and construction begins, any local timeline or specific address will hinge on how quickly those franchise deals come together and how smoothly the permitting process runs, according to Birdcall.
