Franchising

Birdcall opens 1st franchise restaurant in Mississippi

Photo: Birdcall

August 25, 2026

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Colorado-based chicken brand Birdcall has opened its first franchise-operated restaurant in Starkville, Mississippi, as the company prepares for additional expansion in Colorado, Idaho and Indiana.

The 3,500-square-foot restaurant is located next to Starkville's historic State Theatre and is owned and operated by brothers Mark and Greg Hayden.

The opening marks a milestone for Birdcall, which has spent the past nine years building its company-operated footprint before launching its franchise growth strategy.

"After building Birdcall over the last nine years, it's an incredible milestone to open our first franchise location with Mark and Greg," CEO Mark Lohmann said in a company press release. "We couldn't have asked for better partners to get us here."

The Starkville restaurant features self-service ordering kiosks, bold artwork and Birdcall's made-to-order menu, including chicken sandwiches, sliders, tenders, gluten-free nuggets and salads. The location also serves draft beer and house-made margaritas.

Birdcall currently has 18 restaurants across Colorado, Arizona, Texas and Mississippi, with more than 20 additional locations in various stages of development.

The company expects to open two additional franchise locations later this year in Boise, Idaho, and Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Birdcall also recently signed a multi-unit franchise agreement to develop five restaurants in the Indianapolis metropolitan area, marking the brand's entry into the Midwest.

"Mark and I are thrilled to officially open in Starkville and become part of the community," Greg Hayden said in the release.

Birdcall is targeting as many as 200 locations nationwide by the end of 2028. The company said its restaurants generate average unit volumes of approximately $2.3 million.

The franchise fee is $50,000, and the company said the investment to open a typical 2,300-square-foot Birdcall restaurant starts at approximately $762,000. A typical location seats about 125 to 150 guests and employs approximately 25 people.

Franchising