Chick’nCone celebrates grand opening in Hamlin

The crispy, fried chicken sizzles as it’s tossed in a Buffalo Blue hot sauce. The dripping chicken tenders are delicately placed into a hand-rolled, sweet waffle cone before being passed over the counter to a waiting customer. 

Hamlin residents now will be able to enjoy the popular fast food chain, Chick’nCone, following the eatery’s grand opening Saturday, July 8.

The Pennsylvania-based business was first founded by Jonathan Almanzar and Josh Lanier in 2014. Since then, the company has grown to offer locations across the United States and even two in Dubai. 

The business is known to serve four primary dishes: the Chick’nCone, chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders and a chicken bowl.

Customers can choose from an assortment of sauces such as Cinna-Maple, Yell BBQ, Kick’nRanch, Buffalo Blue and Peri Peri.

In addition, Chick’nCone offers delectable sides including cajun-seasoned corn, cajun-seasoned fries, and mac and cheese.

HAMLIN HOME

The Hamlin Chick’nCone, which opened in May, is owned and operated by three partners: Dave Sooklal, Mert Smith and Anddy Carmona.

Carmona said he opened a Chick’nCone in his hometown of New York before the business was shut down during COVID-19.

Following the pandemic, Carmona said he came to Orlando, where he met his current partners.

Smith, a Gotha resident, said he and his wife own a personal injury law firm in Orlando. Sooklal is a partner there.

Sooklal believes Orlando has grown in the last 10 years, but he has not seen as many new food concepts.

“I heard about the business and drove to the closest Chick’nCone location in Tampa and tried it,” he said. “That got me really engaged in the product, and my partners and I really believed in the concept.”

The trio said the process and the product is what attracted them to the company.

“The product is great, the food is amazing, the concept is really catchy, and then the process — the fact that you can hand roll a cone, fry some chicken, sauce it up, serve it — I just love it,” Carmona said. “It really brought me in, and once I tried the product, I was sold.”

Carmona said the concept of hand-held, on-the-go chicken and waffles is what makes the business so unique. 

“It’s delicious and it’s something that anyone can enjoy as long as you like chicken,” he said. 

The Hamlin Chick’nCone is assisted by Jackie Quintana, who helps to lead the team with her two children, De’yanna and Jacob, who came from the Winter Park location. 

“We employ a good number of high school kids, and I think it’s a good place for them to have an introduction into a job,” Sooklal said. “It’s a small business so we have a lot of control over what we do as opposed to big corporate organizations. We can cater to our and our employee’s needs.”

Smith said the growing Horizon West community drew them to the location, and he is interested in seeing what Hamlin will look like in the next few years.

“Also, to see how we can contribute to the community,” Carmona said. “Once we grow and become bigger, we can do more. We don’t want to just be a location in the community, we want to help and give back.”

The eatery said it hopes to partner with other local businesses and the community and to host events such as a jazz night or cornhole tournament. 

“We’re looking to see how we can contribute and become part of the community, not just as business partners in the community, but also as upbringing the community and bringing people together and making sure we can progress as a community,” Carmona said. 

Smith said the main goal with the business is to grow in the Hamlin community and beyond. In addition, the trio plans to open two other locations, although the exact place and timeline have not yet been determined.