Chicken Guy! restaurant celebrates grand opening at Ocala Walmart Supercenter on Southwest 19th Avenue Road
Business
2025-10-175 min readGuy Fieri's Chicken Guy! Restaurant Opens in Ocala Walmart
By Staff Reporter
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A new restaurant from celebrity chef Guy Fieri opened this week inside the Walmart Supercenter on Southwest 19th Avenue Road, marking the latest expansion of the fast-casual chicken concept in Florida.
Chicken Guy!, which specializes in chicken tenders, sandwiches and signature sauces, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday at the 2600 SW 19th Avenue Road location. The restaurant operates as part of a franchise agreement with Golden Horse Group LLC and is managed through Twin Towers Trading Site Management, which specializes in placing food service operations inside Walmart stores nationwide.
The Ocala location represents another entry point for the brand in Florida's competitive fast-casual dining market. Chicken Guy! has established locations across several states, including California, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, Alabama and other Florida markets since launching in 2018.
"This community knows great flavor and great energy, and that's exactly what we're serving up," said Mena Kahlid, partner with Golden Horse Group LLC, the franchise operator. "Partnering with Walmart lets us meet guests where they already shop."
The restaurant's menu centers on what the company describes as brined and breaded chicken tenders, available in sandwiches or as standalone orders. Signature items include the OG, the Big Bite B.L.A.T., and the Bourbon Brown Sugar BBQ sandwich. The chain markets its house-made sauce selection as a key differentiator.
Chicken Guy! Ocala will operate daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with dine-in seating available inside the Walmart location. The restaurant plans to add delivery service through third-party platforms including UberEats and DoorDash, with catering options expected later this season. Online ordering will be available through the company's website.
The restaurant opening results from a multi-party franchise arrangement. Fieri developed the concept with restaurateur Robert Earl through Earl Enterprises. Twin Towers Trading Site Management, established in 1993, handles the retail integration, working with restaurant chains across more than 2,200 Walmart stores nationally.
Ronnie Sammons, senior vice president of operations for Chicken Guy!, said the company views Ocala as fitting its expansion strategy. "Ocala's reputation for hospitality and heart makes it an ideal home for our fun, flavor-driven brand," Sammons said in a statement.
The company has not disclosed financial investment figures for the Ocala location or the number of employees hired for the operation.
Chicken Guy! launched in 2018 as a collaboration between Fieri, known for his Food Network programs, and Earl, a veteran restaurant industry executive. The brand positions itself in the fast-casual segment, targeting customers seeking quick-service options with sit-down restaurant quality.
The company operates a loyalty program called the Sauce Squad, offering points-based rewards through a mobile app available on iOS and Android platforms. New app users receive promotional incentives including complimentary sauces and welcome points.
The Ocala opening adds to Marion County's expanding restaurant portfolio as the area continues to experience population growth and increased commercial development. The location provides convenient dining options for shoppers at the busy retail corridor on Southwest 19th Avenue Road.
For complete details about Chicken Guy! Ocala, including menu information, loyalty program details, and upcoming delivery and catering services, visit the business directory listing.
Location: 2600 SW 19th Avenue Road, Ocala, FL
Hours: Daily 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Contact: Visit chickenguy.com for more information
Chicken Guy!, which specializes in chicken tenders, sandwiches and signature sauces, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday at the 2600 SW 19th Avenue Road location. The restaurant operates as part of a franchise agreement with Golden Horse Group LLC and is managed through Twin Towers Trading Site Management, which specializes in placing food service operations inside Walmart stores nationwide.
Bringing Flavor to Marion County
The Ocala location represents another entry point for the brand in Florida's competitive fast-casual dining market. Chicken Guy! has established locations across several states, including California, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, Alabama and other Florida markets since launching in 2018.
"This community knows great flavor and great energy, and that's exactly what we're serving up," said Mena Kahlid, partner with Golden Horse Group LLC, the franchise operator. "Partnering with Walmart lets us meet guests where they already shop."
Menu and Operations
The restaurant's menu centers on what the company describes as brined and breaded chicken tenders, available in sandwiches or as standalone orders. Signature items include the OG, the Big Bite B.L.A.T., and the Bourbon Brown Sugar BBQ sandwich. The chain markets its house-made sauce selection as a key differentiator.
Chicken Guy! Ocala will operate daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with dine-in seating available inside the Walmart location. The restaurant plans to add delivery service through third-party platforms including UberEats and DoorDash, with catering options expected later this season. Online ordering will be available through the company's website.
Business Partnership
The restaurant opening results from a multi-party franchise arrangement. Fieri developed the concept with restaurateur Robert Earl through Earl Enterprises. Twin Towers Trading Site Management, established in 1993, handles the retail integration, working with restaurant chains across more than 2,200 Walmart stores nationally.
Ronnie Sammons, senior vice president of operations for Chicken Guy!, said the company views Ocala as fitting its expansion strategy. "Ocala's reputation for hospitality and heart makes it an ideal home for our fun, flavor-driven brand," Sammons said in a statement.
The company has not disclosed financial investment figures for the Ocala location or the number of employees hired for the operation.
About the Brand
Chicken Guy! launched in 2018 as a collaboration between Fieri, known for his Food Network programs, and Earl, a veteran restaurant industry executive. The brand positions itself in the fast-casual segment, targeting customers seeking quick-service options with sit-down restaurant quality.
The company operates a loyalty program called the Sauce Squad, offering points-based rewards through a mobile app available on iOS and Android platforms. New app users receive promotional incentives including complimentary sauces and welcome points.
Impact on Marion County
The Ocala opening adds to Marion County's expanding restaurant portfolio as the area continues to experience population growth and increased commercial development. The location provides convenient dining options for shoppers at the busy retail corridor on Southwest 19th Avenue Road.
For complete details about Chicken Guy! Ocala, including menu information, loyalty program details, and upcoming delivery and catering services, visit the business directory listing.
Location: 2600 SW 19th Avenue Road, Ocala, FL
Hours: Daily 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Contact: Visit chickenguy.com for more information
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Guy Fieri
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Marion County