Port Arthur Native Bringing Frenchy's Chicken to Gulfway Drive

Entrepreneur Fred Wilson plans to open a new Frenchy's Chicken franchise in his hometown, reviving a cherished community site.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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Port Arthur native Fred Wilson is set to open a Frenchy's Chicken franchise in mid-April, taking over the former Church's Chicken location on Gulfway Drive. Wilson sees the new restaurant as both a business opportunity and a chance to give back to his hometown, creating 30-40 new jobs and revitalizing a cherished community site.

Why it matters

The new Frenchy's Chicken franchise represents an investment in Port Arthur's south side, bringing new economic activity and job opportunities to a neighborhood that has seen the loss of a longtime community staple. The development is also a point of local pride, with a native son returning to open a well-known restaurant brand in the city where he grew up.

The details

Entrepreneur Fred Wilson, a Port Arthur native, is opening a new Frenchy's Chicken franchise in mid-April at 2200 Gulfway Drive, the former location of a Church's Chicken. Wilson said securing this site was both a business decision and a personal milestone, as he has fond childhood memories of visiting the Church's Chicken with his family. Wilson plans to hire 30-40 employees, with a mix of experienced roles and entry-level positions open to local teenagers.

  • Wilson plans to open the new Frenchy's Chicken franchise in mid-April 2026.
  • The former Church's Chicken at 2200 Gulfway Drive closed at an unspecified prior date.

The players

Fred Wilson

A Port Arthur native who is opening a new Frenchy's Chicken franchise in his hometown.

Charlotte Moses

The Mayor of Port Arthur, who welcomed the new Frenchy's Chicken development as a way to reinvigorate the community.

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What they’re saying

“I always knew I wanted this, this space and to be able to get it and to bring this well established and distinguished franchise, to the city is just, it's surreal sometimes.”

— Fred Wilson, Entrepreneur (12newsnow.com)

“Church's was a big hit back then, but here now we have Frenchy's coming in the same location reinventing, reinvigorating, just bringing new life to our city.”

— Charlotte Moses, Mayor of Port Arthur (12newsnow.com)

What’s next

Wilson plans to hire 30-40 employees, including both experienced roles and entry-level positions open to local teenagers, ahead of the franchise's mid-April 2026 opening.

The takeaway

The new Frenchy's Chicken franchise represents an investment in Port Arthur's south side, bringing new economic activity, job opportunities, and a sense of local pride to the community. The development revives a cherished site that previously housed a longtime community staple, signaling a new chapter for the neighborhood.