The Sun Sentinel first detailed the fried fowl frenzy, reporting that two new spots, Dave's Hot Chicken and a soon-to-open Pollo Campero, have joined the lineup that already included Raising Cane's, Chick-fil-A, KFC, Wingstop, Pollo Tropical, and PDQ. All of them are within roughly half a mile of each other, and it's a poultry pileup so precise it could make a GPS recalibrate.
The Comments Are Hilarious and Completely Sarcastic
Locals have dubbed the phenomenon as everything from "The Chicken Strip" and "The Coop Capital" to "Chicken Corner." Online, debates rage over whether this is capitalism at its finest or a deep-fried dystopia. "It's comical at this point," resident Ludmila Lavena told the Sun Sentinel. On June 29, Laverna posted a heads-up about Dave's opening in the Pompano Beach Florida Residents Facebook group that quickly racked up more than 100 comments, mostly involving confusion, enthusiasm, or unsolicited sauce rankings.In the group, people commented on Lavena's post, writing, "You know what we need here in Pompano...more fried chicken and Italian restaurants. If there isn't one every 30 feet, are we really trying?" which got over 50 laughing emoji reactions. "Lol for real! Chipotle, PDQ, Dave’s, Publix, Raising Cane's...surprised Zaxby's doesn’t open up soon," wrote another, and "Someone needs to install chicken sculptures, like the fish around town!"
But it's not just locals scratching their heads. Even commercial real estate pros are weighing in. According to broker Lauren McGee Weiss, the chicken chains are likely zeroing in on the area for its foot traffic, proximity to I-95, and proven customer base. In other words, if one spot's slinging sandwiches successfully, others will follow suit, with fries and combos in tow.
And in true South Florida fashion, there's a silver lining for every overstuffed drive-thru: competition. PDQ manager Felipe Rivera said he's actually seen more customers since new spots opened. "People come for one place, then discover us," he told the paper.
Still, the real question remains: how many more wings and tenders can one neighborhood handle before it hits peak poultry? At this point, if you open a salad place, you'll be a pioneer.
Two new spots, Dave's Hot Chicken and a soon-to-open Pollo Campero, have joined the lineup of chicken chains in Pompano
Pollo Campero photo
But Some Think It's a Good Thing
But while the sheer volume of chicken might seem absurd to some, others see variety. And despite the crowd, most operators insist there's room for everyone in the coop. A rep for Pollo Campero told the Sun Sentinel that they aren't worried about the competition because their offering is "fundamentally different," an argument that's surely been made before in dating app conversations in history.And in true South Florida fashion, there's a silver lining for every overstuffed drive-thru: competition. PDQ manager Felipe Rivera said he's actually seen more customers since new spots opened. "People come for one place, then discover us," he told the paper.
Still, the real question remains: how many more wings and tenders can one neighborhood handle before it hits peak poultry? At this point, if you open a salad place, you'll be a pioneer.
