Church’s Chicken to Open in Sunny Isles

St. Croix Times Staff

St. Croix - Church’s Texas Chicken is set to open at the end of August 2025 in the space vacated by Pollo Tropical in the Sunny Isles Shopping Center. The franchise will be operated by Wenvi, D/B/A Wendy’s, a group headed by Dr. Peter Kumpitch, a longtime restaurateur in the Virgin Islands. 

The Church’s brand is expected to open several other locations in the Virgin Islands in the near future. 

“This exciting new venture marks a significant milestone in the global growth strategy of the Church’s brand,” the company said in a press release. 

Church’s operates over 1,400 restaurants in 20 countries. The brand is known for its bold Texas flavor, hand-battered fried chicken, and fresh baked honey-butter biscuits. 

“We are thrilled to bring our brand and legendary fried chicken recipes to the U.S. Virgin Islands,” said Gregg Gallagher, VP of the Americas for Church’s Texas Chicken. “We believe that the Sunny Isles location is a perfect location to introduce our Bold Texas Flavor to the territory. We’re incredibly pleased with how the Caribbean has embraced Church’s Texas Chicken,” added Mr. Gallagher. “And we look forward to working together with Dr. Kumpitch and the Wenvi organization to make Church’s a beloved brand in the USVI.”

Speculation has swirled throughout the island as to what type of restaurant could occupy the huge franchise-style space that was originally built for the Pollo Tropical Caribbean-style chicken franchise restaurant which quickly closed down and was followed by the quick closure of Roasted in the same space that Church’s will now occupy. Pollo Tropical seemed a natural to be successful given its popularity in Puerto Rico and Miami. But the fact is very few American restaurant brands survive or decide to open franchises on St. Croix given the particular indigenous tastes of the locals. Hopefully, Church’s will beat the odds.