Layne’s Chicken Fingers celebrated the grand opening of its first Midland location on Saturday, Oct. 24.
Kessly Salinas/Midland Reporter-Telegram
Layne’s Chicken Fingers celebrated the grand opening of its first Midland location on Saturday, Oct. 24.
Kessly Salinas/Midland Reporter-Telegram
Layne’s Chicken Fingers celebrated the grand opening of its first Midland location on Saturday, Oct. 24.
Kessly Salinas/Midland Reporter-Telegram
Layne’s Chicken Fingers celebrated the grand opening of its first Midland location on Saturday, Oct. 24.
Kessly Salinas/Midland Reporter-Telegram
Layne’s Chicken Fingers celebrated the grand opening of its first Midland location on Saturday, Oct. 24.
Kessly Salinas/Midland Reporter-Telegram
Layne’s Chicken Fingers celebrated the grand opening of its first Midland location on Saturday, Oct. 24.
Kessly Salinas/Midland Reporter-Telegram
Layne’s Chicken Fingers celebrated the grand opening of its first Midland location on Saturday, Oct. 24.
Kessly Salinas/Midland Reporter-Telegram
Layne’s Chicken Fingers celebrated the grand opening of its first Midland location on Saturday, Oct. 24.
Kessly Salinas/Midland Reporter-Telegram
Layne’s Chicken Fingers celebrated the grand opening of its first Midland location on Saturday, Oct. 24.
Kessly Salinas/Midland Reporter-Telegram
Customers lined up early to get a taste of the new Layne’s Chicken Fingers in Midland on Saturday during the restaurant’s grand opening.
Layne’s Chicken Fingers celebrated the opening with children’s face painting and giveaways, including sunglasses, keychains and lanyards. The first 50 customers of the day had the chance to win free Layne’s for a year.
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Peter Cantu, who works in corporate marketing for the company, said customers were lined up for the grand opening early. He said he’s participated in four restaurant openings, but the crowd still surprised him.
“Every time it still amazes me how much people show up and how excited they are about something that’s new,” Cantu said.
Layne’s Chicken originated in College Station. The company’s expansion into West Texas began in Lubbock, where it operates three locations.
James Massick, the company’s managing director for West Texas, said the restaurant has several locations in its expansion plans, including one on Andrews Highway in Midland.
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The Andrews Highway location is scheduled to open between mid- and late January 2027, Massick said.
He added that the expansion plans included opening two restaurants in Midland and two in Odessa.
“Midland-Odessa is kind of known in the restaurant business as a great place to be,” Massick said. “People eat out here. People spend money here.
He added that major restaurant chains have experienced some of the strongest openings in the Midland-Odessa area, making it an attractive market for Layne’s.
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Massick said the community’s turnout at the grand opening was “unbelievable.”
More than chicken
Layne’s aims to distinguish itself from other chicken restaurants through its menu, which includes several house-made sauces and options beyond its signature chicken offerings.
Customers can choose from sauces such as buttermilk ranch, honey mustard, Layne’s signature sauce, barbecue sauce and gravy. The menu also includes milkshakes, cookies, grilled cheese sandwiches and club sandwiches.
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“We have more than one sauce,” Cantu said. “You can’t go wrong with one of our house-made sauces, which is the Layne’s signature sauce, honey mustard and buttermilk ranch.”
Both Cantu and Massick highlighted the club sandwich as a personal favorite. Massick added that he orders spicy chicken with plain sauce and adds Louisiana hot sauce.
Cantu said that another thing that sets the restaurant apart is the food quality and competitive pricing.
Building community connections
One of the company’s goals is to establish lasting relationships with the communities it enters, Massick said.
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The company hopes to work with local schools, churches, businesses and organizations seeking fundraising opportunities.
“We want to be a part of every community we’re in,” Massick said. “We hope to build this thing out to be pretty big, but our main goal is to be different and not just be another restaurant.”
Massick said the company’s goal is to support local organizations and become involved in community activities, rather than focusing solely on growing its business.
“It not just about Layne’s, Layne’s, Layne’s. It’s about being a part of the community,” he said. “That’s how you grow long term, and that’s what we’re after.”
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Cantu echoed the sentiment, saying the restaurant is interested in developing partnerships with local business owners, churches and youth sports teams.
“We want to personally give back to the community,” Cantu said. “If they’re trying to raise money and they want to come to us for an event, we are more than happy to help them out.”
Layne’s Chicken Fingers is located at 2000 Rankin Highway. It is open from 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday and from 10:30 a.m. to midnight Thursday-Saturday.
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