Daddy’s Chicken Shack Tuesday announced its fourth regional development deal this year, igniting its growth in a new state. The chicken concept has secured a 20-unit deal with Florida businessman Ed Zausch and his wife, Gayla. Now putting the brand at 80 locations in development, this specific deal targets expansion throughout Orlando and Daytona Beach.
The Zausches are “still underway with site selection, so no leases signed just yet,” a spokesperson for the restaurant chain tells What Now Orlando.
The couple aims to open the first of their 20 locations as soon as possible, predicting early 2023 for an opening date. With a regional development deal in place for the Zausches, their immediate focus lies solely on their first location in Orlando. From there, they will begin actively marketing the franchise opportunity to qualified individuals who will carry on the Daddy’s Chicken Shack growth.
As the newest franchisees with Daddy’s Chicken Shack, the Zausches have a wide array of experience, ranging from infrastructure management to teaching positions. Gayla’s family has owned and operated a variety of restaurants, ultimately giving the husband-and-wife duo a well-rounded understanding of the ins and outs of running a successful operation from all fronts.
“Given our professional backgrounds, my wife and I have been seeking a new business venture that brings together both our skill sets and our passion for entrepreneurship. After meeting the Daddy’s team and trying the products ourselves, we knew we wanted to be an early addition to this fast-growing concept,” Ed Zausch said in a press release. “I’m honored that Pace and Chris have taken their passion project and turned it into something that my family can also be a part of. We’re thrilled to be joining them at this stage of expansion, and are honored to be the developers growing the brand throughout Florida, helping facilitate nationwide growth.”
The Zausches will oversee the site selection and development of all 20 Florida locations, targeting Orlando first and then moving outward toward Daytona Beach. With Ed’s background in infrastructure and utility business ownership, he provides an excellent scope of both commercial and residential markets that will prime this expansion for success. Similarly, Gayla’s experience in the restaurant industry gives the duo insight on industry trends and how to ingrain a restaurant into its local communities.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to see the Daddy’s brand expand into a new state. Florida will no doubt be a catalyst for our East Coast expansion, and with how rapidly the brand is expanding, this announcement couldn’t come at a better time,” Pace Webb, who serves as CEO and leads the brand with Chris Georgalas, her husband and president of the brand, said. “Ed and Gayla are the perfect duo to introduce Daddy’s to the Florida market. With it being such a key growth market for us, we’re honored to have the Zausch family spearhead this new initiative and I look forward to having them with us for many years to come.”
The Zausches agreement comes just two weeks after the Dahlstrom family signed another 20-unit development deal split between Colorado and Texas. This chain of development deals was ignited by RE/MAX co-founder Dave Liniger, an investor turned franchisee who is gearing up to open his primary location with the brand in the coming months.
