Grand Opening of Zaxby’s in Gatlinburg’s Mountain Mall

With construction complete, the first Zaxby’s restaurant in the city of Gatlinburg has opened in the Mountain Mall. A Southeast favorite for chicken fingers and wings, the new fast casual restaurant opened for business on February 29th, 2016.

“We believe that this area is the perfect fit because of the great reputation that Zaxby’s already has in Tennessee but also because of the worldwide visitors that this destination attracts,” said Chris Andrews, co-licensee, with business partner Brandon Barrett, of the new Gatlinburg location. “We will have the opportunity to introduce the brand to millions of people for the first time.”

The new location will be the sixth location for the Andrews-Barrett team and the 71st location in Tennessee. Zaxby’s currently operates in 16 states — Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia.

With seating for 102, the new 3,800-square-foot location will be the second in-line store for the brand, meaning that it will be directly in line with other storefronts, not freestanding, and without a drive-thru. The design will have rustic farmhouse décor, complete with warm tones and stained wooden plank tiles. The open kitchen provides a more intimate feel while allowing guests to see their food being prepared.

“For this location, we are hiring 50 team members from the local community,” said Andrews. “We are an extremely employee-driven company, so we take pride in partnering with local organizations that are near and dear to the hearts of our staff. Our hope is that whether someone lives in the neighborhood next door or is just visiting for a week, their time with us will be a positive experience that keeps them coming back time and time again”

An alternative to fast food, Zaxby’s offers prepared-at-order chicken fingers, wings, sandwiches and salads. Zaxby’s most popular items are its hand-breaded Chicken Fingerz and Traditional or Boneless Wings, smothered in a choice of nine sauces with names like Wimpy, Tongue Torch, Nuclear and Insane. The menu also offers innovative Zappetizers like Tater Chips, Spicy Fried Mushrooms and Fried White Cheddar Bites, as well as a variety of Party Platterz perfect for any family gathering or special occasion.

Gatlinburg Zaxby’s guests will enjoy the Coca-Cola Company’s proprietary drink fountain, Coca-Cola Freestyle. The sleek, stylish fountain is touchscreen operated, enabling guests to select from more than 100 regular and low-calorie brands—including many varieties of waters, sports drinks, lemonades and sparkling beverages that were not available in the U.S. prior to the arrival of Coca-Cola Freestyle.

Zaxby’s also offers four salads, or Zalads: The House, The Blue, The Caesar and its newest addition, The Cobb. All of Zaxby’s Zalads are prepared with chicken, three kinds of lettuce, interesting ingredients—such as French-fried onions—fresh veggies and juicy tomatoes, and are larger than most salads served elsewhere. Zalads are assembled at the time the order is placed, versus being pre-made and stored in a cooler.

Additionally, Zaxby’s offers a new line of premium milkshakes, including the popular Birthday Cake and Banana Pudding Milkshakes and the new Chocolate Cookie Milkshake. They are rich and creamy, hand-blended, and are topped with whipped cream.

The new Zaxby’s is located at 611 Parkway in Gatlinburg, Tenn.