WALDORF, Md. — Zaxby’s opened its inaugural Maryland restaurant on November 12, 2025, at 3068 Waldorf Market Place, introducing the Georgia-based chain’s chicken fingers and signature sauces to Charles County diners. The 3,600-square-foot site, operated by franchisees Manuel Fierro, William Sanders and Romanus Anamege through RMW1 LLC, marks the company’s third new state entry this year after launches in Nevada and Arizona. It also advances Zaxby’s toward its goal of 1,000 new stores nationwide by year’s end.
The location offers 56 dine-in seats alongside drive-thru lanes, curbside pickup and online ordering via the Zaxby’s app or zaxbys.com. Delivery options include DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber Eats and EZCater. Customers can download the app from Google Play or the App Store for ahead-of-time orders. The menu features hand-breaded Chicken Fingerz, 12 signature sauces and the brand’s Zax Sauce, a creamy blend of spices developed in 1990 that has drawn a loyal following across the South.
“Our mission is to repeatedly demonstrate excellent southern hospitality by providing friendly service and taste bud tantalizing food from the world famous Zaxbys brand,” said Manuel Fierro, William Sanders and Romanus Anamege of RMW1 LLC. This Waldorf outlet represents RMW1’s debut Zaxby’s venture, built in collaboration with CMI General Contractors, a firm based in neighboring St. Mary’s County. The project created more than 60 jobs, from line cooks to cashiers, bolstering employment in a community where retail and service roles drive much of the local economy.
Zaxby’s, founded in 1990 in Statesboro, Georgia, by Zach McLeroy and Tony Townley, started as a single drive-in and grew to over 950 locations, primarily in the Southeast. The chain emphasizes fresh, never-frozen chicken prepared daily, with meals like the Chicken Finger Plate pairing tenders with crinkle-cut fries, Texas toast and coleslaw. Sauces range from mild Tongue Torch to nuclear-level Insane, catering to varied heat preferences. In Maryland, the Waldorf site sits in the bustling Waldorf Marketplace, adjacent to Red Robin and near St. Charles Towne Center, a hub for shopping and dining that sees heavy foot traffic from Charles County’s 170,000 residents.
Franchisees Fierro, Sanders and Anamege bring logistics experience from operating Amazon Delivery Service Partner routes, a background that informed their pivot to food service. In 2023, the trio committed to five Zaxby’s units in the Washington, D.C., area, starting with Waldorf as a gateway to the mid-Atlantic market. Their selection of Charles County aligns with the region’s growth, fueled by proximity to Joint Base Andrews and the Capital Beltway, which funnels commuters from Prince George’s and beyond.
This opening precedes additional Maryland rollouts. Zaxby’s announced in October plans for three Eastern Shore sites — Cambridge in late 2025, followed by Easton and a West Ocean City or Berlin location — targeting the tourism draw of Ocean City. A Prince George’s County restaurant in District Heights is slated for early 2026, expanding the chain’s footprint in the Baltimore-Washington corridor. Such moves reflect Zaxby’s strategy of entering markets with strong suburban demand, where quick-service chicken commands a 15 percent share of fast-food sales, per industry data.
In Waldorf, the arrival fills a niche amid a competitive fast-casual landscape. Chick-fil-A anchors the area with multiple outlets, while Five Guys and Sonic Drive-In handle burgers and shakes. Newer entrants like Raising Cane’s and Dave’s Hot Chicken have spiked interest in tenders and spice since 2023. Zaxby’s differentiates with its sauce variety and hospitality focus, training staff on personalized greetings and upselling combos. The Waldorf buildout, completed in under six months, highlights efficient franchising: RMW1 handled permitting through Charles County Planning and Growth Management, navigating zoning for commercial pads in the 111-acre marketplace.
The Waldorf location operates daily from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., with extended hours on weekends.