Guthrie’s, the Athens, Georgia-born restaurant that claims the title of the country’s first chicken-finger-only chain, opened its second Upstate South Carolina location in Anderson in late March, bringing the brand to 306 Hutson Ave. The original Upstate location is in Greenville; the Anderson store marks the chain’s continued push into the fast-casual market along the I-85 corridor between Charlotte and Atlanta.
The Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting for the new Guthrie’s location. The chain’s menu centers on fried chicken tenders served with a proprietary dipping sauce that has been the brand’s defining differentiator since its founding in Athens in the 1960s.
The Upstate expansion reflects broader restaurant growth along the I-85 corridor, a stretch that includes Spartanburg County as a prime commercial node. The region’s population growth — driven by employers like BMW and dozens of manufacturing operations — has made it increasingly attractive for regional chain restaurants looking for their next market. Spartanburg has seen multiple new fast-casual and sit-down restaurant openings in recent years as the county’s retail and dining sector tracks employment and housing growth.
Guthrie’s Upstate push follows strong performance at the Greenville store and reflects the chain’s interest in markets with a young professional and college-affiliated demographic. Anderson University and Tri-County Technical College both serve the Anderson area, and the 306 Hutson Ave address puts the restaurant near established retail traffic in the city.
