Utahns love their chicken fingers and Scott Davis is betting the crispy, dunkable tenders from Layne’s Chicken Fingers will soon become a family favorite.
Started in Texas in 1994 (two years before Raising Cane’s), the original Layne’s location, near Texas A&M in College Station, is a popular hangout for students and college sports fans. Mike Layne started the fast-casual restaurant, then sold it to Mike Garratt, who operated it until 2023, when Garrett Reed purchased the brand, ushering in significant growth for the company.
Davis opened two Layne’s Chicken Fingers locations in 2025: in Clearfield (846 W. 1700 S.) at the beginning of the year and in Herriman (5402 W. 13400 S.) in November. He’s looking to expand the restaurant’s presence to 15 cities in Utah over the next several years.
“I was originally from Dallas, but my wife and I came to Utah a couple of years ago and fell in love with it,” Davis said. “My wife’s entire family are Aggies, that’s where the brand started, and it’s one of those brands that develops a cult-like following. It’s just a great concept. I love the food. There’s a simplicity to the brand that is very desirable.”
The two Utah locations are the first Layne’s spots west of Texas and will go head-to-head with other popular chicken-finger restaurants in the state. Davis said Layne’s menu will quickly stand out for its flavorful chicken, variety of sauces (including jalapeno ranch and cream gravy) and the assortment of hand-spun shakes.
He thinks Utah’s demographics, which include large families with lots of kids, create the perfect situation for a successful foray into the state.
“I was convinced that if we brought the outstanding products that we have at Layne’s to the Utah market, it would be extremely successful,” Davis said. “It was a matter of us getting our name out there and people understanding who we are and really what we’re about.”
The next location where Davis is looking to expand is in Riverdale, which he hopes to open in the third quarter of 2026. He’s also scouting additional locations in Northern Utah where he feels the brand will make the biggest impact.
Community involvement is a vital part of the Layne’s mission. It’s important to Davis to be involved with local schools, businesses and nonprofits to ensure the restaurant is known for more than just good food.
“Even though it’s a fast-growing brand, I really want to be part of each individual community,” he said. “We’ve got a fundraiser going here, generating revenue for a foundation that’s in Herriman. We want to get involved and not just be another national brand that doesn’t engage with local communities.”
Nearly a quarter of jobs at the Utah Layne’s locations are for part-time team members, including students from nearby high schools. Davis wants a teen’s first job to be memorable, for all the best reasons.
“We want that great, positive environment they can look back on,” he said. “We want to make sure that we combine not only the great food, but a great environment, for our customers as well as our team members.”
To learn more, visit layneschickenfingers.com.