Stephanie Spear Devon Cavanaugh Chamberlin is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and a big fan of chicken salad. So much so that she has made it her family’s business. Devon is the owner of three local Chicken Salad Chick franchise locations in Northern Virginia, with more to come. We chatted with Devon in advance of the Chicken Salad Chick’s Herndon location opening at 494 Elden Street. Read on for more with Devon and why this chicken salad is worth the hype.
About Devon
Devon Cavanaugh Chamberlin spent her childhood here in Northern Virginia, went to college in North Carolina, and made her way back to the area after graduate school at Penn. But, she couldn’t stop thinking about the chicken salad at the Chicken Salad Chick, a franchise with roots in Auburn, Alabama.
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Devon thought that the concept would be a home run in the Northern Virginia area. “CSC is very inviting, you can sit and catch up with friends,” she said. “All of the food is made fresh in-house daily, and there’s something for everyone on the menu. People are always looking for more quick-service options, and there’s nothing like it in the area.”
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Devon continued to grow her social work career, but couldn’t stop thinking about the chicken salad. She shared her idea with her family during one of those ‘what if’ type conversations at the kitchen table. Devon’s father, Patrick Cavanaugh, and father-in-law, Barry Chamberlin, were convinced, and the three formed the corporate entity to bring CSC to Northern Virginia. Then came the franchise application and finding the right locations.
Eventually, the team agreed on six total locations in Fairfax County, two in Arlington County, and two in Loudoun County. The team’s first location is in Falls Church at 7505 Leesburg Pike in the Idylwood Plaza. It opened in Fall 2024. The Herndon location at 494 Elden Street is the third they’ve opened so far, joining the Falls Church location and another in Fairfax at 13057 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway in the Greenbriar Shopping Center. “Northern Virginia residents want fresh, health-conscious food that is easy to grab and go and doesn’t break the bank,” Devon said. ” What excites me about the Herndon location is that it has ample parking out front, easy-to-access curbside, and a beautiful dog-friendly patio for all those nice weather days.”
Devon credits her team for the locations’ successes. She continues to work full-time as a social worker. Devon and her husband live in Falls Church and have one daughter and a dog.
About the Chick
The CSC concept was founded by Stacy and Kevin Brown in Auburn, Alabama, after Stacy’s homemade chicken salad became a local hit. Stacy was selling chicken salad out of her home, and it became so popular that the local health department shut it down. In 2008, she opened a small, takeout-only storefront that consistently had lines around the block.
All of the chicken salad recipes are named after women in Stacy’s life, such as the Classic Carol and the Fancy Nancy. “I name them after real chicks, chicks that have influenced who I am today – best friends since kindergarten, college roommate, mother, mother-in-law, aunts, friends, neighbors. They all eventually had namesakes. And these chicken salads came to life,” Stacy said in a 2018 interview.
Now, there are nearly 300 locations nationwide. Devon’s work in the community as a social worker is something that drew her to the CSC model. The CSC brand established the CSC Foundation to support CURE Childhood Cancer and local food banks with fundraisers throughout the year. “Giving back to the community is part of the structure,” Devon said. “From donating food to hosting fundraisers, our restaurant being a part of the community is huge.” For example, at the opening of each Chick location, friends and family are invited for a ‘soft opening’ where their meal is on the house. Instead of paying for their meals, guests are encouraged to donate to the local cause highlighted that day. For the Herndon grand opening, the Ronald McDonald House was the recipient.
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The Chicken Salad Chick menu includes a variety of chicken salads plus side items like pasta salad, fruit salad, and soup. The chicken salads can come in plain scoops or in a sandwich, and there are several meal combinations available. Everyone has their favorite salad, and Devon’s favorite year-round is the Buffalo Barclay, except if there’s a seasonal salad, then that’s her pick. There are grab-and-go options available, and the restaurant offers catering.
Chicken Salad Chick of Herndon is open Monday – Saturday from 10:30AM – 8PM. For more information, visit www.chickensaladchick.com. Follow Chicken Salad Chick on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and trends.
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