In the mood for some chicken, fries and a shake? A new restaurant, Layne’s Chicken Fingers, might be the answer. The state’s first Layne’s is opening in Clearfield this month and promises good food and great service.

“I went to college in College Station, Texas,” said Layne’s owner Scott Davis. “Layne’s had developed a cult following primarily at Texas A&M. It was extremely successful.”

Davis and his wife graduated from there. Davis said later on when he wanted to get out of corporate America he thought back to how much he liked Layne’s in college. “When they decided to franchise we talked about it and we opened in Dallas, Texas two years ago.”

It’s a tough market there (Texas), he said. “So about six months ago we shifted to the Utah market in the greater Salt Lake area. It looked more favorable. We agreed to have a minimum of 15 locations over the next five to six years.”

Clearfield is the first entry into the market, said Davis. “We have a house in the mountains and spend 50% of our time in Utah. We’ve gotten to know the market and felt Layne’s brand would do well here.”

Davis said they are finalizing the contract for two more locations that should open in April or May. “We’ll have three locations open in 2025.”

Layne’s serves chicken fingers, fries and milkshakes. “That’s our core,” said Davis. “It’s our foundation. It’s great food and even better service.”

It’s a fun environment, he said. “We have fun and we’re laid back. Our interior brings the local community into it. We’ll feature local high schools and Hill Air Force Base. We want to develop a close awareness as a business and bond with the community.”

Davis plans to sponsor high schools, sports, etc. “We will try to get ingrained into the community.”

Guests can choose a regular or spicy version of Layne’s chicken, said Davis. “We have six different sauces and four to five different shakes that we spin in the shop. They’re a great compliment to our meals.”

Every meal is made to order, he said. “They’re not prepackaged, they’re done fresh. It’s different from what can be traditionally found at other restaurants. You don’t find our sauces, etc. That’s what sets us apart from other restaurants in the market place.”

Layne’s is looking to hire 40-50 people, said Davis. “We’re reaching out to local kids who are looking to have a job. We try to get a strong base of employees from the community.”

They will be hosting a job fair Dec. 27, 28 onsite at 846 W. 1700 South, Clearfield from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. and again Jan. 3, 4. 

Restaurant hours are Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m. and Sunday 10:30 a.m.–11 p.m. Visit them at layneschicken.com. λ