The Magnet Fried Chicken to open second location in Brighton

PENFIELD, BRIGHTON, N.Y. (WROC) — The popular fast-casual joint in Penfield, The Magnet Fried Chicken, is looking to open its second location.

Co-owners and father-son duo Jeff and Riley Christiano expect the new place, located in the old Schaller’s in Brighton, to be up and running in the fall.

The Magnet Fried Chicken started as Chick Magnet , a food truck, that the Christiano’s started during the pandemic.

Before the new venture, Jeff taught culinary arts at East High. Riley says the meals were so good at home that:

“It always seemed like he was an overqualified culinary arts teacher,” he said.

When the pandemic hit, it was time to launch. Jeff and Riley got into business together, as Riley was graduating from business school.

The menu came quickly, many of the items incorporating wordplay on “chick.” The duo had to change the name because of a trademark issue, but the food remained.

Their flagship sandwich is the most popular, but they have other options and a rotating monthly special. The two opened their first brick-and-mortar in their native Penfield:

“Let’s go work out of Penfield Hots, that’ll be great,” Jeff said.

But it’s more than working together:

“My grandpa, his father, his plane went down in Vietnam,” Riley said. “That happened when he was two. So it’s a really great redemption arc for our family. He not knowing his father, and me, seeing my father every single day.”

“it’s been a blessing,” Jeff added.

That time together has paid off, as they look to open their second place.

“Everything about it makes sense, and it’s in a really great location,” Jeff said.

“For our customers to be happy, for them to have 10, 15 minutes of joy,” Riley said. “I’m looking to take what we do here and multiply it.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.