Midland will welcome a new fast-casual chicken finger restaurant when Layne’s Chicken Fingers opens its doors Oct. 24 at 2000 Rankin Hwy. The national brand, which has grown to more than 50 locations, is expanding further into West Texas under a development push that its local operator says will bring multiple openings to the state.
Grand opening promotions and community tie
The Midland opening will feature a high-profile promotion: the first 50 dine-in guests on Oct. 24 will receive free Layne’s for a year. In addition, a percentage of sales from the grand opening day will be donated to Midland Senior high school.
- Opening date: Oct. 24
- Address: 2000 Rankin Hwy, Midland
- Promotion: First 50 dine-in guests get free Layne’s for a year
- Community giving: A portion of opening-day sales to Midland Senior high school
“I’m thrilled to bring Layne’s to Midland. We’re building exciting momentum across Texas, and every new opening gives us an opportunity to introduce more people to the brand. I’m looking forward to growing our presence and bringing Layne’s to even more communities.”
The comment comes from Eli Cohen, founder of C5 Restaurants, who is overseeing the expansion under a 55-unit development agreement signed in late 2025 to introduce Layne’s locations across Texas and Arkansas. The Midland restaurant is one of several openings planned in rapid succession; Cohen is scheduled to open the brand’s first San Antonio location the week following Midland’s debut.
What Midland diners can expect
The new Midland location will offer Layne’s full menu, centered on hand-breaded chicken tenders and signature items. Menu highlights listed by the company include:
- Chicken finger meals
- Texas toast–stacked sandwiches
- Chicken club topped with brisket bacon and American cheese
- Multiple dipping sauces, including the house sauce, jalapeño ranch, honey mustard, BBQ and gravy
The brand has emphasized what it calls "crave-worthy sauces" and a focus on crispy, hand-breaded tenders. That product positioning and the aggressive growth plan have helped Layne’s expand quickly in recent years.
Local context and potential impacts
For Midland residents, the opening carries several local implications. The promotional giveaway and opening-day sales donation create a direct connection between the chain’s arrival and community benefit for Midland Senior high school. The expansion also adds another national-style quick-service option to the local restaurant mix along Rankin Highway, a corridor that has seen steady commercial development.
Under the 55-unit agreement noted by the operator, the Midland site represents a step in a concentrated West Texas rollout. While the company has not disclosed employment numbers for the Midland restaurant, openings of this type commonly bring new hourly and management positions, supplier activity and additional foot traffic for neighboring businesses.
Details at a glance
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Brand | Layne’s Chicken Fingers |
| Operator | C5 Restaurants (Eli Cohen) |
| Opening | Oct. 24 |
| Address | 2000 Rankin Hwy, Midland |
| Opening-day promotion | First 50 dine-in guests: free Layne’s for a year |
| Community partner | Midland Senior high school (percentage of sales on opening day) |
As the rollout continues across Texas and into Arkansas under the 2025 agreement, Midland residents will be watching how the store performs both as a dining option and as a participant in local commerce. The combination of a high-profile promotion, charitable contribution to a local school and the promise of more openings in nearby markets positions Layne’s as an expansion-driven entrant to Midland’s restaurant scene.
