Highlights

Bojangles opened its first Arizona restaurant Monday in Gilbert, drawing customers who lined up as early as 5 a.m. at the Val Vista Drive and Melrose Street location just south of Loop 202 Santan, according to AZ Family.

The Gilbert restaurant, at 3765 S. Val Vista Drive, is the chain's first foothold in the state after the company announced in 2024 plans to open 20 new restaurants in the Phoenix area as part of a westward expansion. The location employs between 60 and 70 people and operators anticipated 1,000 to 1,500 customers on opening day. The grand opening had been delayed briefly to allow for finishing touches.

The North Carolina-based chain was founded in 1977 and now operates nearly 800 restaurants across 17 states, known for Cajun-seasoned fried chicken, buttermilk biscuits, and breakfast items including sausage, egg and cheese biscuits, as AZ Family previously reported and the Phoenix Business Journal confirmed.

A second Arizona location in Avondale is planned to open within the next year.

Where to find them

Sources

Every factual claim in this article traces to one of the sources below. See how we work for the editorial process.

  1. AZ Family (3TV/CBS5) retrieved 20/07/2026 19:19
  2. AZ Family (3TV/CBS5) retrieved 20/07/2026 19:19
  3. Bojangles (official site) retrieved 20/07/2026 19:19

Authored by The Scottsdale Signal. Drafted by AI from primary-source material under our beat-specific editorial guides; reviewed by humans before publish under our five-gate process. Sources retrieved at 20/07/2026 19:19. Every claim traces to a source.