Award-winning PDQ (People Dedicated to Quality) is bringing its famous chicken to Long Island this summer, with plans to open the first New York restaurant in Farmingdale at 1004 Broadhollow Road.
PDQ Set to Open in New York on July 21
PDQ’s menu features its famous hand-breaded chicken tenders, signature homemade sauces and dressings, and made-to-order sandwiches like the Honey Butter and Cali Club. PDQ always uses fresh, never frozen chicken. The menu also includes hand-spun milkshakes and fresh salads. PDQ’s chef-driven recipes and mindful ingredients are typically found in a fine casual restaurant with the value, speed and convenience of the fast food and fast casual segment.
Dean Poll and Thomas J. Fanning, Sr. will head up the local group in charge of PDQ’s entrance into the market. Poll, born and raised on Long Island, comes from a long line of famous restauranteurs, including his father, James Poll. James owned the memorable Pappas restaurant in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, while Dean and his brothers purchased Manero’s in Roslyn, which they transformed into what is now known as Bryant & Cooper. Dean also owns the Loeb Boathouse in Central Park and the legendary Gallagher’s Steakhouse on 52nd and Broadway. Poll has been active in the community, serving as a board member for the New York Athletic Club (NYAC) and an Executive Committee and Board of Trustee member for the Boys’ Club of New York (BCNY).
Fanning, Sr. began as proprietor of The Pig & Whistle restaurant on Long Island. Following that, he utilized his educational degree by joining CIGNA’s I.F.D. division. Fanning, Sr. then partnered with two former colleagues in 1990, establishing one of the top five national life insurance brokerages in the country. In 2002, his former partnership was acquired by National Financial Partners (NFP), a NYSE listed company, where he remained as President until reacquiring his practice and establishing Heritage Strategies LLC in 2009. Fanning, Sr. has leveraged his business experience to become a strategic partner/owner in groups such as M Financial Group, Gold Coast Bank as Founder/Director, Meadowbrook Pointe, ROAR, BFF Holdings and others. Fanning, Sr. serves as Vice Chairman of the St. Francis Foundation, and Chairman of the Fairfield University Dolan School of Business. He is also the founder and director of Gold Coast Bank, and a member of the board of directors, executive committee and the chair of the compensation committee.
“We are thrilled to partner with two veteran business leaders in Dean and Tom, and introduce our PDQ brand to New York,” said PDQ Co-Founder and Principal Owner Bob Basham. “Dean and Tom have a long history of proven results in people-oriented businesses, and their insight and expertise will be critical as we enter New York for the first time.”
The Farmingdale location will be operated by Ryan Basham, son of PDQ Co-Founder and Outback Steakhouse Co-Founder Bob Basham. Basham has had an illustrious career in the restaurant industry, founding Outback with Tim Gannon, Chris Sullivan and Trudy Cooper in Tampa in March of 1988. Since that time, more than 1,500 restaurants have opened under the brand, including Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, Fleming’s, Roy’s, Cheeseburger in Paradise and Outback International.
Basham, along with PDQ CEO and Co-Founder Nick Reader, are the two principal owners of PDQ and the partners spent more than two years developing the concept behind the brand and the quality of the food and establishments. Prior to his current position Reader was the CEO of MVP Holdings, a private investment firm. In addition, Reader served as CFO of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the youngest at the time in the National Football League.
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PDQ’s first New York restaurant will be open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, including dine-in, to-go and drive-thru options, as well as catering for any function. For more information on PDQ restaurants, visit EatPDQ.com or follow the brand on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.
