Chicken Salad Chick permanently closes after owner leaves

Even though Chicken Salad Chick closed its doors in late March, unknowing customers are still met with disappointment at an empty restaurant and a mint green “closed” sign.

Less than a year and a half after opening, Chicken Salad Chick shut down the franchise restaurant for good March 18.

The 3045 SW 34th Street restaurant was known for its sandwiches, chicken salads and soups.

Based in Auburn, Alabama, the company has 16 locations in Florida and has expanded throughout the Southeast.

Emily Scott, who worked as a prep cook at the restaurant, said the staff had a feeling the restaurant might be closing. Owner Mark Singletary was trying to find a new buyer for the place after he decided to step away to spend more time with his kids. Singletary never found another buyer, and that’s when the closure was made official.

“In the beginning, I was annoyed and upset, because I loved that place, and I know people loved it, too,” Scott said, “but life throws you punches sometimes, and you just have to roll with it.”

The sudden closing of the restaurant has upset others, too, like Tiffany Williams, a UF health education and behavior junior. She only went to the restaurant once this semester but was planning on going again before she heard it closed.

“It was so all of a sudden. I wanted to go again because it was so good,” the 21-year-old said. “It was upsetting, because I liked it a lot.”

Williams said the restaurant was good to have in a college town because it always gave her a good portion for the price. She also said she liked the homey nature of the place.

Future plans for the space are still uncertain.

Scott said the corporate office is trying to find a new owner because they want to keep the location. If that becomes a reality, she says she would work there again.