COLUMBUS, Ohio — Minnie Bird, a fast-casual fried-chicken chain founded by Sean Thomas, grandson of Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas, is preparing to enter the Columbus market with three planned restaurants. The company has signed a franchise agreement with Pranay, Ashish and Bob Patel, central Ohio restaurant operators whose portfolio includes more than a dozen Subway and Barrio Burrito Bar locations. Minnie Bird did not identify the future restaurant sites or provide an opening timeline. The Columbus expansion would mark Minnie Bird’s first locations in Ohio. The chain currently operates three restaurants, all in the Chicago area, and was launched in 2024 by Sean Thomas and David Sloan, the former chief executive of Naf Naf Grill. Minnie Bird’s menu centers on fried chicken sandwiches, wraps and tenders. Its sides include crinkle-cut fries, fried cheese curds and coleslaw, while the restaurant also offers dirty sodas and a complimentary swirl of soft-serve ice cream with each meal. The brand’s name is a nod to Minnie Bird, Dave Thomas’ grandmother. Dave Thomas founded Wendy’s in Columbus, linking the new concept to the city where the better-known fast-food chain began. “We’ve spent years building and operating restaurants in Columbus, so we’re careful about what we take on,” Pranay Patel said in a statement. “Minnie Bird stood out — the food is genuinely different, the model is simple to run, and we saw how guests respond to it. We think it has real room to grow here.” The Columbus agreement is part of Minnie Bird’s broader expansion plans. The company also signed a deal in July for 20 restaurants across the Orlando and Tampa areas, with the first Florida locations expected to open in 2027. For Columbus residents, the announcement signals another entrant into the region’s crowded fast-casual dining market, but the project remains at the planning stage until locations, permits and construction schedules are disclosed.