Zaxby’s plans seven new Missouri restaurants, expanding its footprint in the St. Louis region
Seven-store development agreement targets the St. Louis and Columbia markets
Zaxby’s, the Georgia-founded quick-service chicken chain, is preparing to expand in Missouri through a newly signed multi-unit development agreement that calls for seven additional restaurants across the St. Louis area and Columbia in the coming years. The deal was signed with Triple Z Holdings LLC, a Missouri-based ownership group whose principals include University of Missouri alumni.
The company and its franchise partner did not disclose the specific municipalities, sites, construction timelines, or projected opening dates for the new restaurants. The announcement also did not include projected investment totals or job counts tied to the seven-store plan.
What is known about the expansion plan
The development agreement is structured as a multi-store rollout rather than a single-location opening. It is positioned as an addition to Zaxby’s existing Missouri footprint, which already includes several restaurants in the St. Louis area. The company described the agreement as part of an effort to grow in Midwestern markets by pairing brand expansion with local franchise operators.
Triple Z Holdings LLC was described as having experience in retail and franchising, and the group’s local ties were emphasized as a rationale for awarding the development rights in the St. Louis and Columbia corridors.
- Agreement size: seven restaurants in Missouri
- Target markets: greater St. Louis region and Columbia
- Timing: openings planned over multiple years; no dates released
- Site details: not yet publicly specified
How the St. Louis move fits into Zaxby’s broader Midwest strategy
The Missouri announcement comes as Zaxby’s continues a push beyond its traditional Southern base. In recent years the chain has accelerated franchise development activity in Midwestern metros and has announced new-store plans in multiple states outside the Southeast. The company has also highlighted recent growth milestones nationally, including expansion into major metro areas.
For the St. Louis region, the development agreement signals a renewed emphasis on adding units within an existing market rather than entering a brand-new territory. That approach typically allows a chain to build density for advertising, distribution efficiencies, and customer familiarity—though the pace of such benefits depends on where the new sites ultimately land and how quickly they open.
What remains unresolved for consumers, competitors, and local development watchers
Until individual locations are permitted and announced, key practical questions remain open: where the restaurants will be built, whether any will reuse existing restaurant buildings, and whether they will include drive-thru-only or smaller-footprint formats. The company has not indicated whether any of the planned restaurants will be located in the City of St. Louis, St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Metro East communities, or other parts of the wider region.
Next steps are expected to include site selection, local permitting, and construction planning before openings can be scheduled.
As those details emerge, the project will provide clearer signals about where Zaxby’s believes demand is strongest across the St. Louis area’s fast-growing chicken segment and how quickly the brand intends to scale its regional presence.