Chicken on the Way coming to Red Deer
Chicken on the Way is on its way to Red Deer.
The longtime Calgary restaurant is expanding beyond its home city, with Red Deer first on the list. An outlet is scheduled to open in Bower Plaza at No. 128, 2325 Gaetz Ave. — the former premises of Baby Pops boutique — in early May, said Myrna Derowin, Chicken on the Way’s franchise operations manager.
The family-owned business serves fried chicken, fish and chips, shrimp, fries, corn fritters, coleslaw and potato salad. Service is take-out only.
“We’re not an eat-in restaurant,” said Derowin.
There are five Chicken on the Way locations in Calgary, with the first dating back to 1958. It was opened by the Robert Dunn family, who brought the concept to Calgary from Edmonton.
The name reflects the restaurant’s early practice of delivering chicken meals to customers’ homes.
“It would be cooked in a central location and then put in holding ovens in the vans,” explained Derowin. “But they would have a fryer in the van.
“So then the fries and the fritters would be cooked on site.”
Dunn’s grandchildren wanted to expand the chain beyond Calgary, which they feel is already well-served. Negotiations are underway for a location in Airdrie, with more sites likely, said Derowin.
“We have interest in other cities. Things just haven’t been finalized.”
That interest extends beyond Alberta, she added.
“We’ve got a couple of guys looking in B.C. right now.”
The Red Deer Chicken on the Way will operate as a franchise, with its owners planning to relocate here from their current home in Calgary.
The restaurant will be open seven days a week.
hrichards@reddeeradvocate.com
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