2021
4
$365,500
$40,000
$2,024,000
No
Colbie’s Southern Kissed Chicken is a fast-casual restaurant concept that brings Southern hospitality and crave-worthy comfort food to the forefront. Founded by Michael Colby, former Philadelphia Phillies star Ryan Howard, and celebrity chef Fabio Viviani, the brand has quickly gained recognition for its unique blend of high-quality fried chicken and a fun, family-friendly atmosphere.
With a commitment to fresh, flavorful food and exceptional service, Colbie’s aims to become a staple in the fast-casual dining scene. The brand's growth strategy includes expanding through franchising, offering entrepreneurs the opportunity to be part of a brand that combines culinary excellence with a strong community presence.
Why Invest in this Franchise?
Celebrity Endorsement: Leverage the brand recognition and credibility associated with Ryan Howard and Fabio Viviani.
Proven Business Model: Benefit from a concept that has demonstrated success in multiple locations.
Comprehensive Support: Receive extensive training and ongoing support to ensure operational success.
Community Engagement: Join a brand that values community involvement and customer satisfaction.
Established Year:
Colbie’s Southern Kissed Chicken was founded in 2021, making it a relatively new entrant in the fast-casual dining market. Despite its young age, the brand has quickly gained attention due to its unique concept, quality food offerings, and celebrity-backed brand identity.
Founders:
The franchise was co-founded by Michael Colby, former MLB star Ryan Howard, and celebrity chef Fabio Viviani. This combination of business acumen, sports celebrity influence, and culinary expertise has helped create a brand that stands out in the competitive fried chicken and fast-casual sector.
Brand Journey:
The brand started with a vision to combine Southern-inspired comfort food with a fun, family-friendly dining experience. From its first location in Mount Holly, NJ, Colbie’s quickly expanded to high-traffic venues, including sports arenas like Citizens Bank Park and attractions such as the Philadelphia Zoo. Their menu focuses on flavorful, “Southern kissed” fried chicken, sandwiches, sides, and sauces that appeal to a wide audience.
Ownership:
Colbie’s is privately owned by Dixie’s Franchising, LLC, which manages franchise operations, support, and expansion strategy. The ownership group emphasizes franchisee success and brand consistency across all locations.
Franchise Units:
As of September 2025, Colbie’s operates four locations in the United States:
Trenton Thunder Ballpark, NJ
Philadelphia Zoo, PA
Citizens Bank Park, PA
Original Mount Holly, NJ location (now closed)
Market Presence in the USA:
Colbie’s has strategically placed locations in high-traffic entertainment areas, sports venues, and tourist attractions to maximize visibility and customer engagement. The brand is actively seeking franchise partners to expand into New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Florida, targeting regions with strong family, sports, and entertainment demographics.
Industry Category:
The franchise operates within the Fast-Casual Dining / Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) segment, a market that has seen strong growth due to consumers seeking quality, convenient dining experiences.
Company History & Brand Vision:
Colbie’s aims to create more than just a restaurant; it focuses on community engagement, customer loyalty, and delivering consistently high-quality food. By leveraging celebrity influence, innovative menu offerings, and prime locations, the brand has positioned itself for rapid growth in the U.S. fast-casual market.
Colbie’s Southern Kissed Chicken offers a comprehensive support system to ensure franchisees can launch and operate their restaurants successfully. The support is designed to cover every stage of the franchise journey, from site selection to ongoing operations and marketing.
1. Pre-Launch Support:
Site Selection & Lease Negotiation: Colbie’s franchise team assists in identifying prime locations based on traffic patterns, demographics, and market potential. They also provide guidance during lease negotiations to secure favorable terms.
Restaurant Design & Build-Out: Support includes architectural and interior design consultation, kitchen layout planning, and compliance with local health and safety regulations.
Permits & Licensing Guidance: Assistance with obtaining all necessary permits, health inspections, and licenses required to open the restaurant.
2. Operational Training:
Comprehensive Onboarding Program: Franchisees receive hands-on training covering kitchen operations, food preparation, portion control, and quality standards.
Staff Training: Guidance on hiring, training, and managing employees to maintain a consistent brand experience.
Operational Manuals: Detailed manuals and SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) covering day-to-day operations, inventory management, and customer service standards.
3. Marketing & Branding Support:
Grand Opening Support: Assistance with launch marketing campaigns, promotional events, and local PR strategies to drive initial traffic.
Ongoing Marketing Assistance: Guidance on digital marketing, social media, email campaigns, and community engagement initiatives to maintain customer loyalty.
National Brand Campaigns: Franchisees benefit from coordinated advertising campaigns, partnerships, and celebrity endorsements that enhance brand visibility.
4. Academic & Continuous Learning Support:
Workshops & Seminars: Regular educational sessions on operations, marketing, and customer service best practices.
Performance Reviews: Ongoing analysis of sales data, operational efficiency, and customer feedback to identify improvement opportunities.
Franchisee Network: Access to a community of franchise owners for peer support, experience sharing, and troubleshooting.
5. Ongoing Support:
Dedicated Franchise Consultant: Each franchisee is assigned a consultant who provides continuous guidance on operational, financial, and marketing matters.
Technology & POS Support: Assistance with point-of-sale systems, online ordering platforms, and reporting tools for streamlined operations.
Menu Innovation & Updates: Regular updates to menu items and promotions to keep the offerings fresh and competitive in the fast-casual market.
Colbie’s Southern Kissed Chicken offers a comprehensive support system to ensure franchisees can launch and operate their restaurants successfully. The support is designed to cover every stage of the franchise journey, from site selection to ongoing operations and marketing.
1. Pre-Launch Support:
Site Selection & Lease Negotiation: Colbie’s franchise team assists in identifying prime locations based on traffic patterns, demographics, and market potential. They also provide guidance during lease negotiations to secure favorable terms.
Restaurant Design & Build-Out: Support includes architectural and interior design consultation, kitchen layout planning, and compliance with local health and safety regulations.
Permits & Licensing Guidance: Assistance with obtaining all necessary permits, health inspections, and licenses required to open the restaurant.
2. Operational Training:
Comprehensive Onboarding Program: Franchisees receive hands-on training covering kitchen operations, food preparation, portion control, and quality standards.
Staff Training: Guidance on hiring, training, and managing employees to maintain a consistent brand experience.
Operational Manuals: Detailed manuals and SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) covering day-to-day operations, inventory management, and customer service standards.
3. Marketing & Branding Support:
Grand Opening Support: Assistance with launch marketing campaigns, promotional events, and local PR strategies to drive initial traffic.
Ongoing Marketing Assistance: Guidance on digital marketing, social media, email campaigns, and community engagement initiatives to maintain customer loyalty.
National Brand Campaigns: Franchisees benefit from coordinated advertising campaigns, partnerships, and celebrity endorsements that enhance brand visibility.
4. Academic & Continuous Learning Support:
Workshops & Seminars: Regular educational sessions on operations, marketing, and customer service best practices.
Performance Reviews: Ongoing analysis of sales data, operational efficiency, and customer feedback to identify improvement opportunities.
Franchisee Network: Access to a community of franchise owners for peer support, experience sharing, and troubleshooting.
5. Ongoing Support:
Dedicated Franchise Consultant: Each franchisee is assigned a consultant who provides continuous guidance on operational, financial, and marketing matters.
Technology & POS Support: Assistance with point-of-sale systems, online ordering platforms, and reporting tools for streamlined operations.
Menu Innovation & Updates: Regular updates to menu items and promotions to keep the offerings fresh and competitive in the fast-casual market.
| Category | Details / Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Investment Required | $365,500 – $2,024,000 (depending on location type and size) |
| Minimum Investment | Approximately $365,500 |
| Franchise Fee | $40,000 (10% discount for U.S. military veterans) |
| Area Development Fee | $55,000 – $100,000 for 2–5 locations |
| Royalty Fee | 5.5% of gross sales (weekly) |
| Brand Development Fund | 2% of gross sales |
| Local Marketing Contribution | 2% per month of gross sales |
| Grand Opening Support | $10,000 included in startup costs |
| Infrastructure / Build-Out Cost | Included in total investment (varies by location) |
| Working Capital Requirement | $50,000 – $150,000 (estimated) |
| Expected ROI | Varies by location and management efficiency; typically positive within 18–24 months |
| Break-Even Time | 18–24 months, depending on market conditions and operational effectiveness |
| Potential Revenue Streams | In-store dining, takeout, catering, partnerships with local events and venues |
