Slim Chickens in Expansion Mode

by Talk Business & Politics ([email protected]) 130 views 

Whispers readers may recall the item in our last issue regarding the settlement of a lawsuit among friends who founded Fayetteville-based restaurant chain Slim Chickens a decade ago.

Washington County Circuit Court judge Beth Bryan dismissed Ryan Hodson’s suit against Tom Gordon and Greg Smart, and a settlement was reached.

Exact details of the settlement are still unclear, although Gordon has since passed along a statement, announcing that he and Smart have purchased Hodson’s ownership interest in the company.

The two remaining principles aren’t wasting time leading the company into its first significant phase of expansion. Slim Chickens opened its first franchised location in Little Rock in May, and is planning five additional stores in the next 12 months.

Other stores will open on Promenade Boulevard in Rogers, an on-campus location at the University of Arkansas, and in Little Rock, Hot Springs and Texarkana.

That will increase the company’s total number of stores to 13.

Onward, and upward.