GJ Fish & Chicken launches sixth Olathe location at Ridgeview Road

GJ Fish & Chicken will open its sixth restaurant in Olathe by mid-November. The new site is located in a strip center at 808 N. Ridgeview Road, where renovation work is currently underway. The space formerly housed the casual Latin American restaurant Santana’s Sazon.

This opening follows a rapid expansion for the brand, which is owned by 25-year-old Ali Modder. The family business began in 2014 at 6807 Longview Road in South Kansas City. That initial location had only one customer on its first day. Modder has since added four more sites, including a recent opening in Midtown at 204 W. 39th Street inside the former Haha’s Kebabs building.

The menu extends beyond fried chicken to include various fish and seafood options. Items include cod, catfish, tilapia, perch, swat, and whiting, as well as chicken parts like livers and gizzards. Modder notes that the lemon pepper seasoning is a customer favorite. The establishment also serves burgers made with 100% grass-fed beef, cheesesteaks, and sandwiches. Sides include cheese fries, spaghetti, and tater tots. Food is cooked to order, a process that takes 15 to 30 minutes.

Modder attributes the brand’s growth to word-of-mouth rather than advertising. He maintains that quality and consistency are the primary drivers of customer retention. The name GJ honors the family’s hometown of Gulistan-e-Johar in Pakistan. Modder stated that the name serves as a reminder of where the family came from. He emigrated to the United States without speaking English and began working in the business at age 12 after a school suspension.

The owner has operated without taking on loans for expansion. He used personal savings and equity from previous locations to fund new sites. Each location is structured as a separate LLC. Modder closed his second location on Truman Road after a couple of years due to staffing challenges and the surrounding high-crime area. That experience taught him the importance of location selection for restaurant viability.

Artist Mia Tobin of Mia Tobin Art has decorated the interior of the Midtown location to create a family-friendly atmosphere. She will also work on the Olathe site. Tobin’s style features colorful, three-dimensional elements. The current five locations employ about a dozen people, including Modder’s parents, sister, and an aunt. Modder travels to each site nearly daily, using a self-driving Tesla to make business calls during the drive.

The business plans to open three more locations in the area before Modder considers launching a new concept. The current operation serves a mix of casual and family dining needs. Modder remains focused on maintaining high quality and respectful customer interactions as the brand grows.