Aug. 20, 2020

Slim Chickens will add a third Sioux Falls store – this one on the east side.

It will be located on a vacant lot at 2301 E. 10th St.

“I didn’t have it on the front burner,” franchisee Todd Porter said. “But there’s some good reasons to do it. Business has been good, and having another location gives us economies of scale in a lot of different ways. We can generate a lot of awareness with three stores in town.”

Porter brought the fast-growing Southern chain to Sioux Falls three years ago with the restaurant at Minnesota Avenue and 24th Street. The Louise Avenue location opened a year later.

Slim Chickens has fared well during the pandemic thanks to its drive-thru, online ordering and delivery options.

“It’s an interesting business because their business has actually increased over the last year, same-store sales. It went up during the COVID lockdown,” said Scott Blount of Lloyd Cos., who helped Porter find his new location.

In addition to reaching the east side, Blount said Slim Chickens likely will see an uptick during lunch from people downtown who tend to travel East 10th Street.

“That will be a really good spot,” he said.

Porter said he hasn’t determined a time line for construction and opening.

“We’re not in a big, big hurry,” he said. “If it takes us a year in development that’s fine.”