# Layne's Chicken Fingers Opens First Rio Grande Valley Location in Brownsville

> Layne's Chicken Fingers opened its first Brownsville restaurant on November 14, 2026, starting a 12-unit Rio Grande Valley plan led by franchisee Ricki Oberoi.

- Published: 2026-11-14T19:40:18+00:00
- Section: Expansion
- Author: News Desk
- URL: https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-11-14/laynes-chicken-fingers-brownsville-opening
- Source: [PR Newswire](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/laynes-chicken-fingers-brings-the-crunch-to-brownsville-with-1114-grand-opening-302939559.html)

## Key takeaways

- Layne's Chicken Fingers opened its first Brownsville location on November 14, 2026, with free chicken for a year for the first 50 dine-in guests.
- Franchisee Ricki Oberoi signed a 12-unit agreement to develop Layne's across the Rio Grande Valley over four to five years.
- Layne's opened its 50th restaurant in Lubbock, Texas, on June 13, 2026, according to PR Newswire.

Layne's Chicken Fingers opened its first Brownsville, Texas, restaurant on November 14, 2026, the first of 12 locations planned for the Rio Grande Valley over four to five years. The company announced the opening in a [PR Newswire](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/laynes-chicken-fingers-brings-the-crunch-to-brownsville-with-1114-grand-opening-302939559.html) release. The first 50 dine-in guests receive free Layne's for a year.

## Ricki Oberoi's 12-Unit Rio Grande Valley Plan

Franchisee Ricki Oberoi signed a 12-unit agreement to bring [Layne's Chicken Fingers](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0007i2p/layne-s-chicken-fingers) to the Rio Grande Valley, according to the release. Oberoi previously built a portfolio of approximately 50 Wendy's locations over decades in the restaurant industry. The development plan spans from Laredo down to Brownsville over the next four to five years.

"I'm excited about Layne's tenacity for growth and operational simplicity, and I look forward to bringing a great chicken option to my community," Oberoi said in the release.

The Brownsville restaurant serves the full menu of chicken finger meals, sandwiches and sides, including chicken finger baskets, Texas toast–stacked sandwiches and the chicken club topped with brisket bacon and American cheese. Dipping sauces include the signature house sauce, jalapeño ranch, honey mustard, BBQ and gravy.

"Brownsville marks our first opening in South Texas, and we're excited to bring Layne's to the Rio Grande Valley," Chief Executive Officer Garrett Reed said in the release.

## Layne's Scale Behind the Brownsville Opening

Layne's Chicken Fingers is a Texas-born fast-casual chicken tender franchise founded in 1994, according to akta.pro [company records](https://akta.pro/company-data). The same records list systemwide sales of $30 million in 2024 and more than 300 restaurants sold or in development. The company opened its 50th restaurant in Lubbock, Texas, in June 2026, the records show.

## Earlier Layne's Expansion Moves

In October 2026, Layne's Chicken Fingers was expected to add a Lindale restaurant at 3207 South Main Street, with construction starting in January 2027 and completion by June, Yahoo reported. In August 2026, the chain planned to expand into the Sacramento area of California, according to American City Business Journals. In July 2026, Layne's announced the signing of 24 new franchise agreements, Third News reported.

## What Comes Next for Layne's in Texas

The Lindale restaurant's construction is scheduled to start in January 2027 and finish by June, according to the Yahoo report. Layne's 12-store Rio Grande Valley development plan runs from Laredo to Brownsville over four to five years, the release states.

## Companies in this story

- [Layne's Chicken Fingers company profile](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0007i2p/layne-s-chicken-fingers) · website: https://www.layneschickenfingers.com

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