Zaxbys Chicken Fingers & Buffalo Wings — Restaurant in Georgia

I still can't believe what happened to my daughter and me at my favorite Zaxby's on Sandy Plains Road. My daughter called me last Wednesday to pick her up from Zaxby 's. I told her to stay inside while I finished at church and that I was on my way. When I arrived, I couldn't see her inside, but her car was still in the parking lot.

I asked the manager about her, and he told me that she had bought food, sat down to eat, and left about 45 minutes ago. I questioned how he could remember her specifically, and he said it was because she wasn't wearing any shoes. After driving back and forth to our home and Zaxby's three times, I went inside to ask if I could see the security footage of her leaving. They mentioned that she had left through another exit. I went to check that way, looking along the sidewalk and checking all the dark areas, thinking she might have passed out.

After coming back for the fourth time and three hours later, I told them I was going to call 911 to report her as a missing person. I asked if they could check the camera footage to confirm what she was wearing. They said they would check again.

I called 911 and provided my daughter's name. As soon as I did, the operator informed me that an officer would be calling me. The officer soon called and told me that they had my daughter in their custody; they had picked her up from inside Zaxby's. The staff at Zaxby's had called the police on her birthday because she wanted some Zaxby's food—her favorite.

I don't think Zaxby's is our favorite food anymore....

Zaxby's was founded in 1990 by two childhood friends, Zach McLeroy and Tony Townley, in Statesboro, Georgia. The idea for the restaurant originated when Zach and Tony were in college and missed the delicious chicken fingers they enjoyed growing up. Realizing there was a lack of quick-service restaurants specializing in chicken fingers and wings, they decided to launch their own. Zach's father provided $35,000 in startup funding, allowing them to open the first Zaxby's in a converted car dealership in Statesboro. Focusing on high-quality chicken fingers, wings and signature sauces, the restaurant quickly gained popularity with college students. Zaxby's began expanding across the South through franchising in 1996. The brand stood out with its irreverent advertising and fun, casual vibe. By 2000, Zaxby's had 100 locations and became known for its craveable chicken and hospitable service. The company continued its rapid growth over the next two decades, opening its 600th restaurant in 2018. From humble beginnings in a small Georgia town, the childhood friends built Zaxby's into one of the most prominent fast-casual chains in the Southeast through franchising and a dedication to "fanatical"...

On July 4th I sat in the drive-thru behind 4 vehicles. It was shortly before 8pm. Each customer ahead of me successfully placed their order. When I pulled up to the speaker, suddenly they are closed. The manager who confidently identified herself as “Liz” was quite emphatic that they were closed. To consider this poor customer service would be quite generous considering the time we spent in the line. If they were closing with cars in the line they could have sent someone outside to notify anyone in the line that they were closed rather than wasting our time and demonstrating a lack of concern for the customer. Liz clearly won’t miss my patronage but I wonder what other customer service deficiencies exist...