Zaxby's prepares to open in Sikeston

SIKESTON, Mo. -- With construction nearing completion, the first Zaxby's restaurant in Sikeston is opening soon at 1057 S. Main St. The fast-casual restaurant is a favorite for chicken fingers, wings and freshly made salads, and is scheduled to open its doors in spring 2018.

"I am proud and excited to serve the Sikeston community," said Chip Hults, licensee of the Sikeston Zaxby's. " I think Zaxby's will be a perfect addition to Sikeston, whether residents and visitors are already familiar with the brand or discovering the restaurant as a new family favorite."

With seating for 50, this 3,400-square-foot location will feature Zaxby's traditional interior design -- floor-to-ceiling brick walls, with modernized tables and booths, all complemented by an eclectic mix of photography and menu items. Zaxby's also offers quick drive-thru services to meet the needs of busy guests and families who are on the go.

"For this location, we are assembling a great service-minded team of 40 people from the Sikeston community," said Hults. "We are excited to see what the future holds here and can't wait to get started." Interested candidates can apply online at manwellfood.com.

Zaxby's currently operates in 17 states -- Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Virginia.

An alternative to fast food, Zaxby's offers prepared-at-order chicken fingers, wings, sandwiches and salads. Zaxby's most popular items are its hand-breaded Chicken Fingerz and Traditional or Boneless Wings, smothered in a choice of nine sauces with names like Wimpy, Tongue Torch, Nuclear and Insane. The menu also offers innovative Zappetizers like Tater Chips, Spicy Fried Mushrooms and Fried White Cheddar Bites, as well as a variety of Party Platterz perfect for any family gathering, special occasion, sporting event, party and/or tailgate.

Sikeston Zaxby's guests will enjoy the Coca-Cola Company's proprietary drink fountain, Coca-Cola Freestyle. The sleek, stylish fountain is touchscreen operated, enabling guests to select from more than 100 regular and low-calorie brands -- including many varieties of waters, sports drinks, lemonades and sparkling beverages that were not available in the U.S. prior to the arrival of Coca-Cola Freestyle.

Zaxby's also offers four salads, or "Zalads": The House, The Blue, The Caesar and The Cobb. All of Zaxby's Zalads are prepared with chicken, three kinds of lettuce, interesting ingredients -- such as French-fried onions -- fresh veggies and juicy tomatoes, and are larger than most salads served elsewhere. Zalads are assembled at the time the order is placed, versus being pre-made and stored in a cooler.