The latest on two Wichita fried chicken restaurants that have yet to appear
Two big unsolved mysteries in Wichita involve fried chicken and restaurant projects that, more than a year after they were announced, have not come to fruition.
At least once a week, readers email asking for updates on two promised fried chicken places: The Slim Chickens that was supposed to open late last year at 2824 N. Maize Road and the Popeyes that was supposed to open in the old Hardee’s building at New Leaf Plaza, 2053 N. Amidon.
Rest assured, readers, I have traveled down nearly every path available to find out what has become of both projects. Today, I have updates — but still no concrete answers.
Here’s what I do know:
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Slim Chickens on North Maize Road
More than a year ago — in January of 2024 — Slim Chickens pulled a permit to build a new restaurant at 2824 N. Maize Road, a piece of property that sits just north of the strip center that holds Mattress Firm and Tropical Smoothie Cafe.
That same month, a spokesperson for 3PRG Management — the restaurant group owned by former Kansas State football star Jamie Rheem that also runs the Slim Chickens at 2313 N. Greenwich as well as Walk-On’s at 2661 N. Maize Road — confirmed that it was planning to open Wichita’s second Slim Chickens restaurant on North Maize Road.
Then, last June, 3PRG Management said that the land was being prepared and that construction would begin soon. The company projected a fall/winter 2024 opening.
After that, nothing happened, and as of today, the lot is occupied only by weeds.
Since then, I’ve checked in every few months with Shanda Carney, 3PRG Management’s director of marketing and communications, and she’s always said she had nothing new to share.
Then, a few weeks ago, she provided a bit of an update.
“We are thrilled there is so much interest in having another Slim Chickens in Wichita!” Carney said in an emailed statement. “We have development plans for an additional Slim Chickens, but the exact location is still being determined.”
Asked to confirm that the restaurant was no longer planning to open at 2824 N. Maize Road — a property owned by Slawson Companies — Carney said that the restaurant group wanted to stick to its original statement. I also called and messaged Slawson Companies but received no response.
By the way, a few readers have noticed the building going up at 2880 N. Maize Road, on the north side of the Dutch Bros at 2860 N. Maize Road, and wondered if that is the Slim Chickens. In fact, that building is the future home of a Legacy Bank branch.
So, at this moment, it appears that Wichita will get another Slim Chickens. When and where remains a mystery.
Popeyes at 21st and Amidon
When the Popeyes at 1211 N. Broadway closed at the end of 2023, it was supposed to relocate to the vacant Hardee’s building at 2053 N. Amdion.
Construction started on the old Hardee’s pretty quickly but then suddenly came to a halt. In July of last year, franchisee Abdul Hamideh responded to an email question about the restaurant and said that he was just waiting on some equipment to arrive.
Later in 2024, new Popeyes signage was put up on the building. Since then, though, nothing has happened.
Over the past year, I have tried several times to reach Hamideh, the landlord of the old Hardee’s building, and the Popeyes corporate office to no avail. The broker for the building, though, said that the tenant is up to date on the bills and is in compliance with all of the lease obligations.
Hamideh also has the Popeyes restaurants at 3131 N. Rock Road, 1623 S. Seneca, 4232 W. Central and 1350 N. Hillside. The sign on the vacant Popeyes building on North Broadway recently has been directing customers to the Popeyes on West Central.
So, at this moment, the future of Popeyes at 21st and Amidon is no clearer. But the signs sure do look nice.
I’ll provide updates on both chicken restaurants when and if information becomes available.
This story was originally published June 10, 2025 at 2:17 PM.
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