Menomonie has suffered a chicken drought since the late 1900s and needs a change.
The township of Menomonie already offers a variety of food options, including fast food chains and local restaurants. The fast food chains include burger joints (McDonald’s, Culver’s, Burger King) and pizza restaurants (Little Caesars, Pizza Hut, Domino’s, Papa Murphy’s). Local restaurants in Menomonie include Log Jam, Wilson Creek Inn,Dean & Sue’s Bar & Grill, Silver Dollar, Lucette, and many more.
These chains and local restaurants have a mixed menu, with chicken items, burgers, and side dishes. A prime example of this is McDonald’s, with their diverse menu, which includes burgers, fish, and chicken sandwiches. However, these chicken items in chains are overshadowed by the plethora of burgers; people who stop at chains in Menomonie don’t go for chicken, but rather the burgers. This leads to the acquired taste and desire for chicken being blocked out by burger joints.
The graph indicates restaurants that the people at Menomonie High School would want.
The Mustang Messenger conducted a survey in which students at Menomonie High School voted on whether a chicken restaurant would be beneficial in Menomonie. Out of 163 responses, 144 respondents answered yes, and 19 responded with no. When asked whether they would want a chicken place in town, 151 out of 162 people said yes, and 11 people said no.
When questioned about their responses, students gave various reasons. Many students noted that they currently drive 30 minutes to Eau Claire, just to eat at a chicken restaurant, such as Chick-fil-A or Raising Cane’s. With a chicken restaurant in town, this 30-minute drive would be eliminated. Rather than spending $15 on gas to get chicken in Eau Claire, the $15 could go directly toward food.
Other students noted that the food choices in Menomonie are too similar. They said that “all restaurants are burger-focused.” With a chicken restaurant in town, the diversity of food would increase.
However, students also argued that a chicken restaurant would fail in Menomonie. There have been two separate instances in the 1980s- 1990s where a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant failed in Menomonie. In contrast to the town’s past, chicken restaurants are surging in popularity right now. The chicken category generated nearly $80 billion in sales last year, a 6 percent increase from 2023, according to Franchise Times Top 400 data.
There are many differences between KFC and modern chicken chains, such as Chick-fil-A or Raising Cane’s. Unlike the past KFC, where customers had to sit and wait for food, modern chicken chains are ‘fast casual,’ focusing on faster deliveries and a simpler menu. Additionally, according to the student survey, 35% of students want a Chick-fil-A, and 27% want a Raising Cane’s.
Some people may question the budget or economic status of Menomonie. According to Census Reporter, the population of Menomonie is approximately 16,000- 17,000. The median age is approximately 25 or 26, primarily due to the students at UW-Stout. The younger population tends to be favorable for fast, casual, and affordable chicken spots. Because the median age is 25 or 26, a chicken restaurant would benefit the economic status of Menomonie.
Furthermore, a new chicken place would impact the community by offering new job opportunities for college and high school students. According to DataUSA, the economy of Menomonie, WI, in 2023 employs 9.12k people. A chicken place would not only bring in business but also create more job opportunities, thereby benefiting the economy of Menomonie.
Additionally, in 2023, UW Stout had about 7,000 students. A full-service fast food or restaurant typically requires 15-25 employees, comprising a mix of full-time workers and part-time workers. With a chicken place in town, it creates income opportunities for the town and job opportunities for college students. This opportunity will increase the profit Menomonie makes as a township.
We asked David Schofield, the Director of Public Works, a few questions about the costs of a chicken location. “According to Dave’s Hot Chicken’s website, the cost of constructing a single Dave’s Hot Chicken restaurant is between $619,800 and $1,963,000,” Schofield said. “Additionally, Dave’s Hot Chicken requires franchisees to develop a minimum of five restaurants, have at least $2.5 million in liquid assets, and have at least a net worth of $5.0 million. The liquid assets and net worth requirements are designed to ensure that the developer has the initiative not only to start but also to continue operations.”
Schofield also provided us with information about the new Culver’s that is coming to town. “For comparison, the new Culver’s restaurant on Oak Avenue has an estimated construction cost of approximately $1.8 million.” With the projected cost of the new Culver’s on Oak Avenue being $1.8 million, it is clear that Menomonie may be able to afford a chicken restaurant in town.
In an interview with David Schofield, we found out the information we needed to know to get a chicken restaurant, and he responded with, “The City Code allows restaurants in the General Commercial District (B-1), Local Commercial District (B-2), and Local Shopping District (B-3). The location of these districts can be found on the City’s zoning map. A developer would need to purchase land in one of these zoning districts, negotiate a franchise agreement with Dave’s Hot Chicken (or another chicken restaurant chain), prepare plans for site improvements (driveways, parking lots, drive thru, landscaping, stormwater pond, etc), prepare plans for the restaurant building, prepare plans for signs, obtain building permits, and construct the site improvements, construct the restaurant building, construct signs, install the equipment, and get licensed by the Dunn County Health Department.”
Thinking about the requirements to have a chicken place in Menomonie, Schofield continues, “To have a chicken place in Menomonie, a developer will need to commit a significant amount of money toward purchasing land, negotiating franchise agreements, constructing the site improvements, constructing the building, constructing signage, hiring and training staff, and producing high-quality food. It will also require enough potential customers to make that investment worthwhile.”
A chicken establishment would not only provide an economic boost to the city of Menomonie but also offer more food choices for growing adults. Chicken is rich in protein and amino acids, which play a significant role in rebuilding damaged muscle fibers after intense workouts. This would benefit the athletes at UW-Stout and Menomonie High School, increasing their overall performance.
This is beneficial for the overall athletics of Menomonie. Although having a chicken place doesn’t directly impact athletics, it does have indirect impacts. It could become a community hub, giving the town a stronger sense of spirit.
Furthermore, the restaurant could also support athletics by funding uniforms, tournaments, or youth leagues. For example, Culver’s, located in Menomonie, sponsors local youth teams. The restaurant could also be more appealing to people considering a visit to Menomonie, such as coaches, teachers, and families.
If Menomonie were to build a good chicken place, there would be little to no competition. Some people may argue that Jake’s Supper Club or Log Jam is the place to be. However, these places offer a variety of food, rather than just focusing on chicken.
Unlike a chicken place, the pizza locations in Menomonie have loads of competition. Papa Murphy’s, Papa John’s, Little Caesars, Toppers, Domino’s, and Pizza Hut. The chicken place would thrive, creating diversity among the community.
In conclusion, if Menomonie were to build a chicken restaurant, it would generate substantial business and thrive. The community would be more content due to easy access to chicken, and Menomonie would have a serious economic boost. The community needs to take more action to make things happen. Establishing a chicken place would have a beneficial impact in Menomonie.
