Mike Crupi/THE POST Heather Hale, center, boxes a meal for a drive-thru customer at the recently opened KFC, 235 W. Union St. The new restaurant has no dining area, but offers take-out and delivers food for a $1 fee.

Finger-lickin' good chicken is just a phone call away for hungry students since a new Kentucky Fried Chicken with delivery service opened April 19.

The new KFC, 235 W. Union St., is the second such restaurant in Athens. The older KFC, 60 E. Stimson Ave., has a dining area but does not offer delivery. The new store offers only delivery and take out.

Jim Balding, general manager of the new KFC, said there was a need on the west side of town for the restaurant and its delivery service.

"Delivery in general is a new concept for KFC. The KFCs that do have delivery already operate it out of an existing restaurant.

This one is the first KFC that has been built strictly for delivery," he said. "We're kind of a test store."

There is a $1 delivery charge. Most of the fee goes to the delivery person to cover his or her own expenses, Balding said.

The restaurant's hours are 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Balding said the hours could change depending on the demand for delivery.

"This gives the people in Athens an alternative to pizza every night," he said.

Even though there are now two KFCs in Athens, the business of the older one has not decreased.

"It hasn't affected us too much. We've stayed about the same, businesswise," said Todd Bateman, shift supervisor of the Stimson Avenue KFC.

However, the new KFC will affect at least one other restaurant owner.

Joe Miller, owner of Miller's Chicken, 235 W. State St., said he has not seen a difference in his sales yet because of the new store, but he does expect it to affect him eventually.

"I don't think it will put me out of business but it's definitely going to hurt some," he said.

Angel Guzman, a sophomore sociology major, likes the idea of delivery.

"My friends tried it and they loved it. Chicken for delivery? It's an awesome idea!" he said.