Starbird Takes Its First Steps Into New Territory, Far From Where It Started

Starbird has entered a new region with its first Chicago-area restaurant, and with it, the chain has officially made its Midwest debut. The California-based fast casual chicken brand opened in St. Charles, Illinois, on October 19.

Where Starbird Opened and Why It Matters

The new restaurant is at 845 S. Randall Rd. in St. Charles, according to Starbird’s locations page and local opening coverage. Nation’s Restaurant News reported that the opening is the first of five planned locations in the Chicago market through a partnership with Keystone Management Group.

That makes this more than a single store launch. For Starbird, it is an early test of how its chicken concept plays in a major new region far from its California base. The company told Nation’s Restaurant News that it sees Chicago as a strategic next step because of the market’s scale, with nearly 10 million consumers.

The move also broadens a footprint that, on Starbird’s own locations page, now includes restaurants in California, Colorado, Illinois, and Washington. The Illinois opening stands out because it is the brand’s first listed location in the state and its first in the Midwest.

Daily Herald reported ahead of the launch that the St. Charles store would open on Monday, October 19, with a grand opening celebration beginning at 10:30 a.m. The paper said the first 100 guests would receive a complimentary three-piece tenders, chicken sandwich, or salad.

What the Opening Says About Starbird’s Expansion Plan

The St. Charles debut arrived just weeks after another expansion announcement. QSR Magazine reported on September 22 that Starbird signed a franchise partnership with Mehta Investment Group to develop 15 locations across Washington state.

Earlier in the year, Nation’s Restaurant News also reported that Starbird signed what it called its largest franchise agreement to date, a 36-unit Texas deal with Mac Haik Restaurant Group. That agreement is set to bring the brand to Houston, Austin, and San Antonio beginning in 2027, according to the March 10 report.

Taken together, those announcements show a chain moving well beyond its original home market. Nation’s Restaurant News said Starbird ended 2025 with $59.4 million in sales, up 28.2% year over year, and had 17 locations at the end of that year. The same report said there are now just over 20 locations open.

Leadership changes have also come during this growth push. According to Nation’s Restaurant News, Greg Levin was appointed CEO in February to lead national expansion, while founder Aaron Noveshen moved fully into the role of chairman of the board. The outlet also reported that Stefanie Lee joined as chief financial officer in May.

What Diners in St. Charles Can Expect This Week

For local diners, the opening came with a community tie-in, not just a new place to grab chicken. Nation’s Restaurant News quoted Keystone Management Group’s Melanie Bowling saying the company was excited to introduce the California-based brand to the community and to find “a fun way to give back to the schools and students who make this community special.”

Daily Herald provided the clearest details on that effort. From October 19 through October 25, the paper reported, Starbird will donate 20% of qualifying sales to St. Charles East and Geneva high schools through a friendly competition, with an additional $1,000 going to the winning school.

That kind of launch offer gives the opening a practical angle for families deciding whether to try the new restaurant this week. It also signals how Starbird and its local operating partners are trying to build recognition in a market where the brand is still new.

What is confirmed so far is limited to St. Charles and the broader plan for five Chicago-area stores. The company has not released, in the source material provided, a full list of the other planned Chicago market locations or their opening dates.