A new chicken joint is spreading its wings in Dayton, Kentucky. Former food truck Galactic Fried Chicken is opening a brick-and-mortar at 624 Sixth Ave., next door to Unataza Coffee.
The restaurant, owned by Shane Coffey and his wife Kathy McDonald, is slated to open on Thursday, March 5 and will serve fried chicken, chicken tenders and sandwiches, along with a variety of sides ranging from mac and cheese to deviled eggs, fries and salads. They also offer a vegetarian option of fried jackfruit nuggets.
Galactic Fried Chicken will feature three different special combos: the Big Baller, with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot, a whole fried chicken and four sides, served on McDonald's mother's china, with full table service and champagne flutes (price ranges from $150-$200 depending on Veuve choice); the Lil Baller, which includes a 32-ounce bottle of Miller High Life, a whole fried chicken and four sides ($48); and the Baby Baller, which includes a Little Kings six-pack, a whole fried chicken and four sides ($36).
In addition to food, they will offer a variety of canned adult beverages, including beer, wine and spirit. Coffey mentioned Budweiser, Miller and White Claw, along with Breckenridge Porter and March First Lager in an email interview. He will also offer what he calls his "Beer Can Collection Line" including Hamm's, PBR, Little Kings, Old Style and more. The restaurant will serve canned wines from the House Wine brand and canned mixed spirits from Karrikin Spirits.
According to Coffey, the concept behind the eatery was bred from a conversation at Bellevue's Darkness Brewing. After mulling it over, he decided to intersect his self-proclaimed geeky side with this excellence in "chicken cookery" from his fine dining days to create an out-of-this-world food truck.
Eventually, the right opportunity for a permanent location opened up in the city McDonald has called home since 2002 (Coffey moved there in 2015).
"Dayton has been taking care of me and my wife for the past few years and it seems primed for community investment and engagement. Also, the location was a perfect fit," said Coffey.
Prior to Galactic Fried Chicken, the building housed several restaurants, including the Dayton Chili Parlor, Christofield's and most recently Divine's Waffles and Weck.
The businesses left their marks over time, and while it was important for Coffey to make the space his own, he kept in mind the community's connection with the building's history.
"Daytonites love the mural I painted over, but I took a picture of it — it's hanging in the restaurant and a copy is going to the Dayton Museum. The Christofield's sign will also go to the museum if they want it. The mural was a piece that someone put a lot of hard work into," said Coffey.
The restaurant will be open Thursday through Monday and Coffey eventually plans to open seven days a week.
Galactic Fried Chicken, 624 Sixth Ave., Dayton, Kentucky.
