A Zaxby’s location is under construction in Chronicle.
The new fast casual restaurant will be located off of NC-16 Business, in the formerly vacant lot between AutoZone and Advance Auto Parts, across from the Taco Bell.
The property has been cleared and graded and work has started on framing, plumbing, and fire suppression systems.
Efforts to build the Zaxby’s are being led by Sam Mahalingham, an owner of several other Zaxby’s franchises across North Carolina.
“We are looking forward to bringing Zaxby’s ‘encore experiences’ to this area of Catawba County,” Mahalingham told the Chronicle. “[To] enrich lives one person at a time.”
The Chronicle reported in August 2025 that the project was expected to cost approximately $1.5 million, according to the permits issued at the time. The latest permits estimate the total cost at $1.9 million.
The Zaxby’s was originally planned for the vacant lot at the intersection of NC-150 and NC-16, currently a frequent location of a Goodwill donation truck. The location was changed due to the planned 2029 widening of NC-150, which current widening plans say will pave over the corner lot.
Reactions to the project have been mixed. Some expressed support for the Zaxby’s, applauding the increased number of food options in the Chronicle area.
Others suggested the property should have been used for more community-oriented purposes.
“It’d be nice if they build a library, or a community learning center,” one citizen said.
“[How about] places for kids to play,” another citizen wrote. “Indoor playground for the little ones. Something to keep the teenagers occupied. Keep them safe and happy.”
Others expressed disappointment that the Chronicle area has not been developed as a “Gateway to Catawba County,” as suggested by the Catawba County Comprehensive Plan.
Gateways are areas that “help foster a unique sense of place and make a lasting first impression on visitors,” according to the plan.
“Fast food seems to be all that is interested in 150,” a citizen said. “Just look at the junk food corridor at 150 and Slanting Bridge. Very frustrating. Certainly not the Birkdale-like center promised.”
Zaxby’s is a privately-owned Georgia-based fast casual restaurant that specializes in chicken-related dishes and salads. The company has over 970 locations across the United States, the majority of which are franchised.