Waldo's Chicken & Beer is bringing its signature scratch-made Southern fare to Chelsea with the opening of a new location in the Valley Post entertainment district, marking the first restaurant to open in the development's next chapter.
The official lease was signed in early July, and the restaurant is projected to open in early fall.
"This is a big deal for Chelsea, Highland Lakes, Greystone and the entire Highway 280 corridor," Central Alabama Operating Partner Casey Atherton said. "An established Birmingham restaurant that people already know and love is going to be the first to come back to Valley Post and help rebuild what this area can become. We want to be a foundational part of this community for a very long time."
Unlike many quick-service chicken restaurants, Waldo's emphasizes fresh, scratch-made food. The menu features rotisserie chicken, hand-breaded fried chicken, house-made sides and a full bar with frozen cocktails, draft beer and seasonal specialty drinks.
"There isn't a freezer in our restaurant," Atherton said. "Everything is made fresh every day. We hand-cut and brine our chicken overnight, hand-cut our potatoes every morning, and all 11 of our sauces are made from scratch the same day. Everything is made with care."
Waldo’s is also passionate about serving real food at a price families can afford. Family-friendly pricing is a major part of the restaurant's mission. Popular offerings include $9.99 chicken tender box meals and the "Feed the Flock" family meal designed to serve multiple people for around $40. Waldo's also offers a Kids Eat Free promotion on Thursdays with the purchase of an adult entrée.
This will be Atherton's fourth Waldo's location in the Birmingham area. He opened the Cahaba Heights location in 2022, and has since expanded to Vestavia Hills and Pelham.
The Valley Post location will offer features designed to complement the entertainment district, including a screened patio, additional televisions throughout the restaurant and access to the outdoor greenspace.
"What Mike Mouron and Capstone have built here is an incredible property," Atherton said. "The building is beautiful, and we want to bring our own Southern charm, great food, fun atmosphere and unique personality to it."
Waldo's expects to hire approximately 40 employees, including kitchen staff, servers and bartenders. The restaurant has already hired several key leadership positions, with full hiring expected to begin in mid-August.
For more information about Waldo's Chicken & Beer, visit www.waldoschicken.com.