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Taylor Thomas, a seasoned veteran in the Texas fast-food scene, has opened his fourth Lanyne's Chicken Fingers location. The new restaurant is in Mount Pleasant, Texas, and follows openings in Nacogdoches, Tyler, and Palestine.
Thomas grew up in the Whataburger system, eventually operating 23 locations and managing more than 2,000 employees. Now, he's spearheading a massive 25-unit development deal to bring the chicken brand to East Texas and Oklahoma.
"After years of operating in the Texas fast-food landscape, I knew immediately that Layne's had something special. The quality of the food is incredible, and they've built a culture that doesn't take itself too seriously," Thomas said. "We've seen fantastic receptions with our recent openings in Nacogdoches, Tyler, and Palestine, and we are incredibly excited to bring that same high-energy, cult-favorite experience to Mount Pleasant."
The Mount Pleasant opening is the latest milestone in Layne's continued growth across Texas, following recent openings in Georgia and Arkansas.
"Expanding our footprint in East Texas is always a milestone for us, but doing it alongside a seasoned operator like Taylor makes it even better," said Garrett Reed, CEO of Layne's Chicken Fingers. "Taylor knows exactly what it takes to scale a brand while keeping the guest experience front and center. Mount Pleasant marks another major step forward in our goal of 30-plus additional openings this year, and we couldn't be prouder to have Taylor leading the charge as we bring Layne's to more communities across East Texas and beyond."