About Us
From Island Chicken to Sunset Chicken — Same Flavor, Fresh Name
Sunset Chicken started with a simple idea:
Serve unbelievably good chicken tenders in a laid-back, feel-good spot where everyone feels welcome.
Our story began on Marco Island, Florida, as Sunset Chicken — a cozy, take-out only concept with limited seating, focused on fast, fresh, flavorful food. Guests quickly fell in love with our crispy, hand-breaded tenders, seasoned fries, buttery toast, and our original Sunset Signature Sauce.
As our brand grew, so did our identity. We became Sunset Chicken, a name that captures everything we stand for: golden-hour energy, bold coastal flavor, and the kind of comfort food that brings people together.
In the 3rd quarter of 2025, we’re expanding with our first full-service location in Cape Coral, Florida, marking the next chapter of our journey and laying the groundwork for franchise growth.
What We’re All About
- Fresh, Never Frozen Tenders – Always hand-breaded and made to order.
- Laid-Back, Coastal Vibes – Inspired by our roots and sunset state of mind.
- Franchise-Ready – Built to grow, with proven systems and passionate support.
Whether you’re stopping in for a quick meal, feeding the family, or dreaming of opening your own Sunset Chicken, you’re part of something special.
Our Story
The couple said that after retiring and moving here from San Antonio in 2017, they were surprised to find fast food purveyors were few and far between on the Sunset.
“Everything is a sit down or take-out restaurant,” said Mike Mayer. “The workers on the Sunset, they don’t have the time to wait for take-out, when it could take 20 or 30 minutes and a lot of them only have a 30-minute lunch. We thought that this segment was underserved.”
The Mayer’s both had long careers as pharmacists and have also owned several franchise businesses in the past, including Great Clips Hair Salon and Monster Tree Service locations, which they’ve sold.
However, this is their first experience as restaurant owners or employees, aside from Mike Mayer’s stints working in restaurants as a youth.
As is often the case, the couple found retirement to be less than satisfying after decades occupied by busy professional and family lives. So, they decided to re-enter the world of work and to add some variety to Marco’s quick dining options.
Franchise Now
Are you a budding entrepreneur looking to step into an industry that stands the test of time, always creating a steady profit? Then look no further, Sunset Chicken is your answer!
Fried chicken is an American classic that customers have been enjoying for decades and always coming back for more. The fast-food market is surpassing billions in its worth and steadily increasing as consumers are seeking to make their lives easier by having their meals made outside of the house. Sunset Chicken is making itself a household name in the fast-food market and is looking for franchisees to join its fantastic team. The simple-to-operate Sunset Chicken system is positioned for growth from its current success requiring limited staff. The concept fits well into today’s fast-food marketplace, creating a strong potential for ROI and allowing for a wide range of initial investment options for potential franchisees.