Mobile, Alabama, besides the birthplace of Mardi Gras, is also the hearth of a small Southern cultural phenomenon: Foosackly’s -- stylized as foosackly’s or foo. In case you live beyond the Southern coast or under a rock: foosackly’s is a restaurant mini-chain that primarily boasts chicken tenders and hand-squeezed lemonade.

Foosackly’s was established in 2000. However, I honestly did not hear a single word about it until I became a freshman in high school, which was 12 years later. Suddenly, empty foo boxes littered the school campus and the restaurant catered for my class parties. Needless to say, I was baffled. Where had this come from? I blinked, and then, just as quickly, foosackly’s was a late dinner at least two times a week. My classmates and I met there often, and one of my close friends began working at the Dauphin Street location.

What I find so terribly fascinating is that I believe, in its own casual and approachable form, that foosackly’s has created for itself a niche -- and therefore shaped culture on the Southern coast. Its niche is with Mobilian youth; for example, my high school had to explicitly state that students were not allowed to leave campus for foosackly’s (the nearest location was literally a few blocks away). The friendlier teachers simply turned a blind eye while students finished their takeaway chicken in class. Foosackly’s also serves as a common meeting place -- I work next to one, believe me, I know. We are usually the customers’ second stop after they eat their chicken tenders, and their drive-thru is a never-ending line that weaves through the parking lot.

As previously mentioned, foosackly’s maintains a laidback and familiar atmosphere, which makes it more favorable compared to corporate chains like McDonald’s. Yes, it was voted Best Chain in the 2015 Nappie Awards (also awarded Best Sweet Tea, Best Chicken Fingers, Best Ice, and Best Hangover Foods..), but it is local. The chain even involved itself in Mobilian affairs with its slogan of: “We’d like to offer Airbus a hand," when Airbus decided to open its first North American plant in the city. Furthermore, the farthest location is in Foley, Alabama. Only just now is the mini-chain aiming to breach state borders into Pensacola, Florida. Branching out, yet still keeping itself friendly and local, is part of foosackly’s charm, and helps it become a Mobilian cultural asset.

So, in the end, it’s not simply a matter of jumping onto the chicken tender bandwagon (although, it helps that their food is organic, and you can buy a full meal for roughly $5-$6). Foosackly’s is something that Mobile can claim for its own. The mini-chain has morphed into a cultural favorite due to its ability to remain connected with its customers, which is terribly important. You can not forget where you came from -- this applies to people, and apparently, now chicken tenders