Burgeoning craft chicken brand is bringing its award-winning chicken and elevated fast-casual experience to one of Starkville’s most iconic buildings.
Denver, CO (RestaurantNews.com) Birdcall – the Colorado-born fast casual brand specializing in award-winning all-natural chicken sandwiches, salads, and more – has signed a new franchise development agreement for a restaurant in Starkville, Mississippi.
The 3,500-square-foot restaurant will be located in the historic State Theatre, bringing new life to one of Starkville’s most iconic buildings. Construction is expected to begin in April, with an anticipated opening in August.
The Starkville location will be owned and operated by brothers Mark and Greg Hayden, whose combined experience in construction, retail, and restaurant franchising makes them well-positioned to bring Birdcall to the community.
Greg is the owner of a construction company with extensive experience across Louisiana and Mississippi, positioning the team well to manage the unique redevelopment of the historic site. Mark brings decades of leadership experience in the restaurant and retail industries, having opened more than 4,000 restaurants and retail locations nationwide. His background includes experience on both sides of the franchise model, serving as an early franchisee with Blockbuster and as a franchisor with Boston Chicken.
“Mark and Greg bring an exceptional combination of operational expertise, development experience, and deep regional knowledge,” said Birdcall CEO Mark Lohmann. “We’re confident they’re the right partners to introduce Birdcall to Starkville, and we’re especially excited to see our brand come to life in a location as meaningful as the State Theatre.”
Like every Birdcall restaurant, the new Starkville location will offer a welcoming, high-energy atmosphere with a vibrant interior, bold art, and self-serve ordering kiosks designed to make the experience seamless and fun.
The made-to-order menu will be highlighted by eight award-winning chicken sandwiches, sliders, hand-cut tenders, gluten-free nuggets, and chef-inspired salads, complemented by a variety of sides such as fries, tater tots, loaded tots, and coleslaw, as well as an array of house-made sauces and dressings. Guests will also enjoy draft beer and house-made margaritas, with Happy Hour specials.
“Birdcall is changing the fast-casual game with incredible food, bold design, and a guest experience that truly stands out,” said Mark. “Greg and I are thrilled to introduce Birdcall to the Starkville community and build a destination that goes beyond great food and creates lasting excitement and loyalty.”
Beyond its culinary focus, Birdcall will emphasize community engagement through its 1% Back initiative, which will pledge a portion of sales to local nonprofits and organizations. The restaurant will integrate with the community by providing meal donations, donating supplies to neighboring schools, hosting local nonprofits for restaurant nights in which a portion of sales will be donated back to the organization, and more.
The Starkville expansion announcement marks an exciting step in Birdcall’s continued growth across the United States. With 16 restaurants currently open and operating across three states (Colorado, Arizona, Texas), and nearly 20 others in various stages of development, Birdcall plans to have as many as 200 locations nationwide by the end of 2028.
With AUV’s of nearly $2.5 million and a franchise fee of $50,000, Birdcall provides franchise partners an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of an emerging brand in the ever-growing chicken franchise industry. The total investment to open a 2,300 square-foot restaurant that typically seats about 125-150 people and employs approximately 25 people ranges from $752,000 to $2,638,000.
For more information about Birdcall, visit EatBirdcall.com.