Starbird will soon be clucking in Denver. The California-based chicken chain will fly into 965 S. Colorado Blvd. this summer.

Daniel Wagner heads the franchisee group Whiplash Holdings, which announced a deal last November with Starbird to bring seven fast-food restaurants to the Denver metro.

Wagner, formerly director of operations for local chicken chain Birdcall, said he hopes those seven Starbirds are successful enough to justify further growth.

“We want to knock it out of the park and pump 12 to 15 locations in the area,” he said.

He mentioned the Highlands, Westminster and Green Valley Ranch as other spots being looked at. The group signed a 10-year lease last month for the 2,435-square-foot Colorado Boulevard building, which Starbird will share with Einstein Bros. Bagels.

The chain, founded in 2016, sells various forms of antibiotic-free poultry, including $10 chicken parm sandwiches, $14.50 lemon pepper tenders boxes and $14 chopped salads.

David Schneider of Axio Commercial Real Estate represented Wagner and Whiplash in a deal negotiated directly with Florida-based landlord N.E.G Property Services.

“Colorado Boulevard is like the dream street for any business, not even just a restaurant,” Wagner said.

— Max Scheinblum, BusinessDen