CC Babcoq chicken shop coming to Bong Bong St Bowral

A high-end chicken shop with a cult following in The Shire has chosen the Southern Highlands for its first regional store.

For a culinary destination, the Southern Highlands is surprisingly scant of the staple rural chicken shop. But not for much longer.

Beloved chicken shop CC Babcoq has decided to establish its first rural store on Bowral’s main street, next to The Royal Hotel. The $100,000 development will create the second chicken shop in the region. Owner Harry Kapoulas said the gap in the market was obvious.

“There’s no one doing anything like we’re doing,” he said.

“No one is really doing the takeaway chicken thing down there.”

263 Bong Bong Street in Bowral will be the home to a new chicken shop.

CC Babcoq, which takes its name from the sassy character from The Nanny and the French word for chicken (coq), is a cult-favourite chicken shop in Cronulla. Mr Kapoulas sees many similarities between the Sydney suburb and the Southern Highlands, including the preference for delicious healthy takeaway food.

“The clientele in Bowral is similar to Cronulla,” he said.

“People want to eat out but they want a healthy option as well. They want to feel good about what they’re eating.”

CC Babcoq focuses on simple and healthy food.

CC Babcoq will offer a range of salads and hot sides, as well as chicken. Pictures: Instagram

CC Babcoq will focus on takeaway and will cater for families and large parties either local to or visiting the Southern Highlands who don’t want to cook.

“It’s a nice, new-age takeaway shop with a high-end product to feed a family,” said Mr Kapoulas.

“We’re going to be simple and affordable.”

With the boom in tourism in the area and homestays in the area heavily booked months in advance, it’s easy to see why Mr Kapoulas believes the first rural CC Babcoq will be a success.

The development requires only internal renovations, estimated at $100,000. Picture: Brettgoff

The development application outlines plans to create an outdoor eating area on Bong Bong St for those who want to stop and enjoy their food. Additionally, the renovations aim to create three windows running down the length of the restaurant.

As the building had previously been used by a Subway restaurant, the alterations will be minor and internal. Mr Kapoulas emphasised the shop will focus on delivery and takeaway rather than a dine-in experience.

CC Babcoq is owned and run by brothers Harry and Mario Kapoulas.

Mr Kapoulas and his brother Mario, who co-owns the restaurant, are currently looking for local staff and managers to run the shop.

Mr Kapoulas said he hoped CC Babcoq would be open by winter. Once opened, it will operate from 8am to 10pm every day.