St. Petersburg

Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders Opening in St. Petersburg

Huey Magoo’s will bring its tenderloin-focused menu to St. Petersburg this June.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - Huey Magoo’s is targeting a June 1 opening for its newest location at 4331 34th St. S, St. Petersburg, FL 33711, owner Collie Lightsey told Business Debut. The restaurant will mark the brand’s second location in Pinellas County under Lightsey’s ownership.

Lightsey and his wife, Dametris Lightsey, opened their first Huey Magoo’s in March 2021 in Pinellas Park and have since introduced the brand to the local market.

What to Expect

Huey Magoo’s describes itself as the “filet mignon of chicken,” serving only the tenderloin cut of the chicken breast. “We only serve the tenderloin itself,” Lightsey told Business Debut. “It’s the best of the best of the chicken.”

The fast-casual concept focuses exclusively on chicken tenders that are hand-breaded and marinated on site, then flash grilled or prepared fresh to order. Lightsey said everything is cooked fresh and prepared in-house.

The St. Petersburg location will feature expanded seating compared to the Pinellas Park restaurant, which holds about 68 guests inside. The new space is expected to seat approximately 70 to 75 guests indoors, with additional patio seating that could bring total capacity to around 100 guests.

The menu centers on chicken tenders served grilled or hand-breaded, along with sandwiches, salads and related offerings built around the brand’s core product.

Lightsey said the brand’s community focus is central to its identity. “We’re here to serve the community around the restaurant, treat them with respect, make them smile when they come into the restaurant and make them feel seen,” he told Business Debut.

The exterior design of the St. Petersburg restaurant will feature an updated look that aligns with the surrounding marina-style aesthetic of the area, he said.