LINCOLN SQUARE — The Budlong Hot Chicken will return next week with new owners, a new menu and plans to expand.
The Budlong opened in 2015 and expanded across the city, but its founder, Jared Leonard, announced in 2022 he was shopping around for buyers, according to Crain’s.
Gregg Majewski — a former Jimmy John’s CEO — bought The Budlong Hot Chicken a few months after launching Craveworthy Brands in 2022. Craveworthy owns, operates and franchises four brands in more than 18 states, according to its website.
The Budlong will host grand reopening events with discounted menu items 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. Thursday at its four locations in Chicago: Lincoln Square, 4619 N. Western Ave.; the Loop’s Urban Space Food Hall, 15 W. Washington St.; Hyde Park, 1301 E. 53rd St.; and Lincoln Park, 1008 W. Armitage Ave.
Down the line, Majewski plans to add 100 more Budlong locations across the country by 2027, he said in a statement.
“I join the entire team at Craveworthy Brands when I say we are incredibly eager to utilize our expertise in operations, marketing, finance and franchising to fuel strategic growth. The Budlong has so much unrealized potential and we plan to capitalize on it with talented restaurant franchise operators,” Majewski said.
Majewski has brought on chefs Becca McIntyre and Robert Kabakoff to revise The Budlong’s menu so the lineup of new and original chicken sandwiches is cheaper and made using premium chicken thighs.