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El Jannah chicken shop heading to Geelong

Geelong will soon be in chicken ‘paradise’ when a rapidly expanding fast food chain opens its first store in the region.

Geelong will soon be in chicken ‘paradise’ when a rapidly expanding fast food chain opens its first store in the region.

El Jannah, which means ‘paradise’ or ‘heaven’ in Arabic, is a charcoal chicken shop franchise that has soared to fame in the last three years.

The company confirmed it will open up a restaurant in Belmont ‘mid year’ but did not say where or when specifically.

They are currently advertising positions on their website, including for full time assistant restaurant managers and casual crew members.

The first El Jannah store in 1998 in the western Sydney suburb of Granville.

The family owned business gained cult status among Sydneysiders for its Lebanese style dishes like charcoal chicken and garlic mayo.

El Jannah have gained popularity for their chicken and chips with a Middle Eastern twist. Picture: Supplied.
El Jannah have gained popularity for their chicken and chips with a Middle Eastern twist. Picture: Supplied.

It made its way to Victoria in 2022 and quickly soared to prominence, now boasting 15 sites.

The Belmont store will be the furthest south El Jannah have ventured since it opened a shop in Pakenham.

The closest nearby restaurant is in Tarneit, while Ballarat was the first place outside of Melbourne to see a store open.

Chicken takeaway chain El Jannah is hatching plans for fast food domination, with ambitious plans to take on McDonald's and KFC to rule the roost. Picture: Supplied.
Chicken takeaway chain El Jannah is hatching plans for fast food domination, with ambitious plans to take on McDonald's and KFC to rule the roost. Picture: Supplied.

The arrival of one chicken shop comes at the potential departure of another.

The Geelong Advertiser revealed on Thursday that Newtown brick and mortar takeaway joint Chick’n Ranch was at risk of being forced out by local developers.

Project Evolve have submitted plans for a 10 apartment, three shop site on the corner of Minerva Rd and Autumn St worth nearly $7m.

However, not everyone is happy about it.

The owners of small business Animal Deli, a pet supply store on the same block as the proposed development, have launched a petition to block the move.

Co-owner Colin Cooper, who has run the store since 2001, cited traffic and safety concerns as well as a lack of carparking spaces for the objection.

Originally published as El Jannah chicken shop heading to Geelong

Original URL: https://www.ntnews.com.au/news/geelong/el-jannah-chicken-shop-heading-to-geelong/news-story/0a61306273f9166380dd79a1540a496d