We’d love to introduce you to our owners

Garrett Reed has an astronomically cool job. As CEO of Layne’s Chicken Fingers, he’s the guy helping take a College Station cult favorite and turn it into one of the fastest-growing chicken concepts in the country. (Watch out, C****.)

And Garrett didn’t just stumble across Layne’s along the way. He grew up in College Station, where Layne’s was already a local legend and a place he knew well. He saw firsthand what made it special: a simple menu, seriously good chicken and the kind of loyal following you can’t build in a boardroom.

After building a successful career in restaurant development and commercial real estate, Garrett saw what everyone in College Station already knew: Layne’s had something special. His mission became pretty simple - don’t mess with what makes it great, just bring more of it to more people.

That same POV pretty much sums up Garrett, too. He’s laid-back, doesn’t take himself too seriously and believes work should actually be fun. That attitude has become a big part of Layne’s DNA: take the chicken seriously, take the business seriously, but not much else. So while Garrett is busy plotting Layne’s path to chicken-finger domination, the goal hasn’t really changed - make seriously good chicken, give people an awesome experience and have a little fun along the way.

Eric Reed knows a thing or two about finding the perfect spot for a chicken joint. As Chief Development Officer at Layne’s Chicken Fingers, Eric leads the brand’s development and real estate strategy, helping take Layne’s from its College Station roots to communities across the country.

A College Station native and Texas A&M grad, Eric knew Layne’s long before joining the company. After more than two decades in restaurant and retail development - working with some of the biggest names in the business he brought that experience back home to help grow a brand he already knew was something special.

Today, Eric is the guy behind the where, when and how of Layne’s growth, from finding the right markets and the right real estate to helping franchisees build restaurants set up for long-term success. And because apparently one Reed wasn’t enough, he gets to do it alongside his brother, CEO Garrett Reed.

For Eric, the goal is pretty simple: build Layne’s into a brand people recognize anywhere...ideally to the point where all you need to see is Astro Chicken on the sign and you already know astronomically good chicken is nearby.

Matt O’Reilly is an owner and Franchise Liaison at Layne’s Chicken Fingers and has been part of the brand’s growth story from the beginning.

An entrepreneur at heart with a background in finance and investing, Matt partnered with longtime friend Garrett Reed to acquire Layne’s in 2017. What started as a chance to build something special with a good friend quickly turned into a mission to take a beloved Texas brand and introduce it to communities across the country.

Today, Matt is the guy making sure the right people come along for the ride. He works closely with Layne’s franchise partners and believes the best partnerships start with trust. For Matt, it’s never been about selling as many franchises as possible - it’s about finding good people who believe in the brand, building real relationships and helping them succeed.

Originally from Wisconsin, Matt is an avid Badgers fan who still proudly reps his home state. He’s also a serious foodie and wine guy who loves cooking, learning about wine and enjoying a great meal - although these days, there’s usually a chicken finger or two (and a cheese curd) in the mix.