Saucy! by KFC to open two Jacksonville-area restaurants, converting former PDQ sites this spring

New KFC spinoff targets chicken-tenders market with sauce-forward menu

Saucy! by KFC, a tenders-focused restaurant concept tied to the KFC brand, is scheduled to open two locations in the Jacksonville area in spring 2026. The sites are planned as conversions of former PDQ restaurants, signaling a rapid way to enter the market by reusing existing footprints rather than building new stores from the ground up.

The first location is set for March 23, 2026, in Jacksonville’s Town Center area, taking over the former PDQ building at 4816 Gate Parkway. A second location is scheduled for April 13, 2026, in the Julington Creek area of St. Johns County. Both openings align with a broader Florida push tied to the concept’s early rollout.

Why PDQ buildings are being reused

In late 2025, Yum Brands disclosed it had acquired 13 PDQ restaurant site leases in Florida for future development of its concepts, including Saucy! by KFC, with transitions planned over time. The two Jacksonville-area projects fit that strategy: they repurpose existing drive-thru restaurant sites, potentially reducing permitting complexity and shortening construction timelines compared with new builds.

Local permitting activity has also provided clues about the scale of the Jacksonville conversion. City records previously referenced an estimated renovation budget of about $375,000 for the Gate Parkway site as it is remodeled from PDQ into Saucy! by KFC.

What customers can expect

Saucy! by KFC is positioned around chicken tenders and a variety of sauces, reflecting an intensely competitive quick-service segment where brands differentiate through flavor platforms, limited menus, and speed. The concept debuted in Orlando in December 2024, using Florida as an early testing ground before adding additional locations.

• Core focus: Chicken tenders paired with multiple sauce options.

• Format: Fast-casual/quick-service model using small-footprint restaurant sites.

• Market approach: Expansion through conversions of existing restaurants rather than only new construction.

Jacksonville-area impact and what remains unknown

The planned openings add another national-brand competitor to the area’s chicken category, where established chains already compete for traffic near major retail corridors and commuter routes. However, key operating details have not been fully outlined publicly, including hours of operation, hiring totals, drive-thru configuration specifics, and whether menu pricing will mirror KFC, differ by market, or adopt localized promotions.

With two openings weeks apart, the Jacksonville area is set to become one of the early North Florida clusters for the Saucy! by KFC concept.

Additional location announcements in the region have not been confirmed, though the statewide lease acquisition indicates further conversions in Florida are possible over time.