Five Guys franchisees to open new chicken chain on Monday

Does Wichita need another chicken chain?

Brothers Jeff and Jay Miller, best known in this area for being Five Guys franchisees, think so. That’s why they became the first franchisees for Utah-based Sticky Bird.

Wichita’s first Sticky Bird restaurant opens Monday at 616 S. Tyler.

“Sticky Bird is kind of the next generation chicken restaurant,” Jeff Miller said. “It’s just a really fun menu.”

There are grilled and fried tenders, wings, sandwiches, tacos and salads. There are gluten-free options for most menu items and vegetarian options as well.

The modular restaurant already has gotten some attention since it was dropped on the empty lot where another prefab diner — Walt’s Klassics — once operated. That restaurant closed in March of last year and was moved off the site in July.

The Millers are working with Lange Real Estate to develop Sticky Bird properties.

“We will do at least three in this market,” Jeff Miller said.

A new Lange Cos. business called ModuAll is designed to capitalize on the modular construction trend.

Modular restaurants are a growing trend in Wichita. The 7 Brew coffee chain dropped buildings at 3031 E. Central and Douglas and Rock.

The main focus of the new Sticky Bird is its double drive-through, but it also has a small dining room that can fit about a dozen people.

Miller said he and his brother particularly like the social initiative side of Sticky Bird. They will donate 1% of their gross sales to local nonprofit addiction service programs.

Hours for the first Sticky Bird will be 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Miller said the second Sticky Bird could come as fast as the next 18 months.

“We have a fairly aggressive development schedule.”

This story was originally published August 10, 2023 at 11:03 AM.