Layne’s Chicken Fingers Bringing New Restaurant to New Braunfels With $1.1 Million Development Near Loop 337
As New Braunfels continues to attract new residents, businesses and visitors from across Texas, another rapidly expanding homegrown restaurant brand is preparing to plant roots in the city.
Construction plans have been filed for a new Layne’s Chicken Fingers restaurant at 2564 Loop 337 in New Braunfels, according to state construction records. The project, located in Comal County, carries an estimated construction cost of $1.1 million and is scheduled to begin July 15, 2026, with completion anticipated by Nov. 20, 2026. According to project filings, the restaurant will consist of a new 2,430-square-foot ground-up building.
The new restaurant will add another recognizable Texas-based dining option to one of New Braunfels’ busiest commercial corridors, an area that has seen steady retail and restaurant expansion alongside the region’s population growth.
For many Central Texas residents, Layne’s Chicken Fingers represents more than another chicken restaurant entering the market. The company’s story traces back to College Station in 1994, where founder Mike Layne opened the original location long before the chain expanded across Texas and into multiple states.
The company says its goal has remained consistent as it grows: bringing “the same small-town charm, friendly service and iconic chicken fingers & secret sauce” to new communities.
That hometown identity has become part of the brand’s appeal as Layne’s continues expanding throughout Texas cities including Houston, San Marcos, Marble Falls, Katy, Leander and now New Braunfels. Additional locations are also planned in nearby Seguin and San Antonio, signaling continued investment in the Interstate 35 corridor between Austin and San Antonio.
The arrival of another regional Texas chain also reflects broader economic momentum underway in New Braunfels. Once considered primarily a tourism destination between Austin and San Antonio, the city has increasingly become a year-round residential and commercial hub. New restaurants, retail developments and infrastructure projects continue following rapid housing growth throughout Comal County.
Layne’s menu centers around chicken finger meals served with crinkle-cut fries, Texas toast and the chain’s signature sauce. The restaurant also offers chicken sandwiches, wraps, family meals, catering options and hand-spun shakes. Its branding leans heavily into Texas roots and a casual, community-focused atmosphere that has helped the chain gain attention beyond its original College Station market.
The company’s history also includes one of its more recognizable mascots, “Astro Chicken,” who the brand humorously identifies as its “Chief Finger Officer.”
As development continues along Loop 337 and surrounding commercial areas, the addition of Layne’s Chicken Fingers reflects how New Braunfels remains a target market for expanding Texas restaurant brands looking to serve the city’s growing population.
What happens next will depend on construction timelines and permitting progress, but if schedules remain on track, residents could see the new restaurant opening before the end of 2026.
For New Braunfels families and longtime residents watching the city evolve, the project is another visible sign of how regional growth continues reshaping the local dining and business landscape while drawing established Texas brands deeper into Comal County.
Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for more New Braunfels business openings, restaurant development updates and community growth coverage.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
