Slim Chickens to Replace Chick-Fil-A in Penn State’s HUB-Robeson Center

Chick-Fil-A is leaving Penn State’s HUB-Robeson Center after more than 20 years of business inside the University Park campus student union building.

Another fast casual chicken franchise, Slim Chickens, will open an express location in its place in the fall, the university announced on Wednesday.

Chick-Fil-A informed Penn State that it would not renew the university’s franchise agreement unless the location was converted to a full-service restaurant, according to a news release. Such a conversion would require “a significant change in the restaurant’s footprint along with a significant capital renovation to the HUB Dining Food Court.”

Local fans of Chick-Fil-A still will have the full-service, standalone restaurant at 1938 N. Atherton St.

Founded in 2003 in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Slim Chickens’ menu includes chicken tenders, sandwiches and wraps, along with sides and signature dipping sauces.

“Slim Chickens will be a perfect complement to the national brands and Penn State proprietary favorites at the HUB-Robeson Center,” Vince Raco, interim director for retail dining at Penn State, said in a statement. “The menu will offer quality and value our guests expect, as well as the essential speed of service at lunch to satisfy our customers’ express dining needs. We are excited to be partnering with a dynamic, growing company that focuses on fresh, delicious ingredients and has a strong commitment to hospitality.”

The company has more than 100 restaurants and is opening several other college campus locations this year, in addition to more than 50 traditional restaurant locations.

“From our hand-breaded tenders, students will get a taste of southern comfort food at University Park,” Slim Chickens vice president of franchise development Jackie Lobdell said. “We know that Slim’s will be a welcome addition and that Nittany Lions will have a new, fresh choice on campus.”