Fried chicken chain Bojangles coming to Belden Village area

JACKSON TWP. – Fried chicken lovers in the Belden Village area and beyond will soon have another dining option.

Bojangles, a North Carolina-based fried chicken chain widely popular in the Southeast, plans to expand to Northeast Ohio.

Chris Maggiore, owner of Jerzee’s Sports Grille and several other businesses in the area, will be the franchise owner of 10 Bojangles locations through his company, Magg Family Holdings. The first of those restaurants is planned to be built in a plaza on Everhard Road NW, across the street from the Holiday Inn and in front of the Red Roof Inn.

Maggiore said the Jackson Township location will be 3,200 square feet and include two drive-thrus, as well as indoor seating. He also said the new restaurant, which he estimated could cost upward of $1.6 million before land costs, has the potential to create between 70 and 80 new jobs in the township.

Bojangles didn't respond to a request for comment.

Why Bojangles?

Maggiore said that once he bought the plaza, he began looking at different franchises to bring to the area. Due to his experience in the quick-serve restaurant market and Bojangles’ success in the business, Maggiore said, he hand-picked the chain as the best option for the location.

"They've got an amazing company structure (and) culture, a phenomenal menu, fresh products (and) breakfast all day," he said. "It was a great fit. … I think it's going to be really well received and do really well.”

In an area inundated with similar fried chicken restaurants — including Chick-fil-A, Raising Cane’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken and others — Maggiore said Bojangles is trying to find its niche and become a part of the area’s growing restaurant landscape.

More: Wayback Burgers coming to Belden Village area this summer

"We're not trying to compete necessarily, we're just going to focus on our brand and our quality of service and the experience we give our customers," Maggiore said. "And we already know the product is amazing."

When can customers expect to try it?

Currently, there is no set date for when any of the Bojangles locations in Northeast Ohio are expected to become operational. Randy Gonzalez, fiscal officer and economic development director for Jackson Township, said the township has not received any permit applications from Maggiore regarding the Bojangles project.

Maggiore said he hopes the project can be completed by late 2022, though he couldn’t say for sure.

Bojangles has also planned to open 15 locations in the Columbus area, which may be its first introduction to the Ohio market. The locations and opening dates for those restaurants have not yet been announced.

Includes reporting by the Columbus Dispatch.

Reach Ryan via email at rmaxin@gannett.com, on Twitter at @ryanmaxin or by phone at 330-580-8412.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Bojangles location coming to Everhard Road NW in Belden Village