Member Spotlight: Chicken N Pickle

It began as an idea over cold beer and jerk chicken in the Grand Cayman Islands and evolved into a pickleball court in North Kansas City. Now, it’s a growing small business with multiple locations across the country. Chicken N Pickle is our latest Top 10 Small Business to step into the Member Spotlight.

Chicken N Pickle opened their first location in 2016 near an industrial area in North Kansas City. Their motto is “good food, good friends, good fun” and it’s safe to say this small business is living its motto. The flagship location quickly became a destination where customers could enjoy wood fired chicken and some friendly competition via pickleball. This family-owned restaurant grew and now Chicken N Pickle has locations in North KC, Wichita, and San Antonio. They have three more in the works: Oklahoma City this fall, then Overland Park and Grand Prairie, Texas next year. Their goal is to be in 10 markets in the next 10 years.

Not only does Chicken N Pickle pride itself on their food and pickleball, they also pride themselves on their work environment. There are 20 full-time employees, and 110 part-timers. With so many part-time employees, Chicken N Pickle is often the first or second work opportunity for many of their team members. The restaurant wants help these employees grow. Chicken N Pickle’s Pickle U is their corporate training system, designed to promote equitable education and training for people who have little or no work experience. It involves stories and lessons on how to succeed in multiple languages through learning videos. Pickle U has helped build a strong work culture and an inclusive environment.

Chicken N Pickle knows how important it is to support fellow small businesses. They’ve partnered with other local favorites like Boulevard Brewery, Farm to Market Bread, Thou Mayest Coffee Roasters, and Good Natured Family Farms, to deliver high-quality food and beverages. customers. As a Kansas City-born business, they feel strongly about contributing to the community that they say raised them.

In addition, to great food and lots of pickleball, Chicken N Pickle is also becoming something of a corporate favorite. Pickleball and other outdoor games provide a fun opportunity for team-building and even professional development in a unique setting.

As the owners say, Chicken N Pickle isn’t simply a restaurant, recreation destination, concert venue, competitive sport environment, corporate retreat venue, party spot, neighborhood gathering place or any other one-dimensional offering. Chicken N Pickle is ALL of these. Not bad for something that began over beer and jerk chicken. 

You can cheer on Chicken N Pickle and the other Top 10 Small Businesses at the KC Chamber’s Top 10 CEO Panel, October 1, 9:00 am – 10:30 am. The Small Business of the Year will be announced October 15, at the Small Business Celebration Virtual Awards event. The Presenting Sponsor for the CEO Panel is Bank Midwest, and the Presenting Sponsor for the Awards is the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Our 2020 Small Business Programming is presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City and Evergy.