Our Story
Tully’s Tenders has built its reputation on serving ALWAYS FRESH, NEVER FROZEN, HAND-BATTERED, PREMIUM CHICKEN TENDERS. This dedication to freshness and quality sets Tully’s apart and makes it’s signature tenders a favorite among guests. By blending the high standards of service, attention to detail, and the GREAT FOOD & GOOD TIMES found at our full-service restaurants with the HOT, FRESH, FAST convenience and value of a fast casual dining experience, Tully’s Tenders offers the best of both worlds. Whether you’re craving our hand-battered chicken tenders, crispy sandwiches, fresh salads, or hand-spun premium milkshakes, you’ll find satisfying options that will keep you coming back for more. Tully’s Tenders is proud to be an active part of the local community. We support local charities, schools, and organizations, and are honored to show appreciation for our local heroes, including Police, Firefighters, and EMTs. This community-focused approach reflects the core values that guide everything we do at Tully’s Tenders.
Beginnings in Batavia
For more than five decades, the Giamartino Family has played a pivotal role in introducing innovative and exciting dining concepts to the communities they serve. Their journey began in 1968 with the launch of Carrols Hamburgers, a fast-food restaurant located at 522 East Main Street in Batavia, NY. This initial venture laid the foundation for the family’s ongoing commitment to providing great food and memorable experiences to their guests, shaping a legacy that continues to influence their business today. After a period of success, Carrols closed its doors in 1983 and was transformed first into a Bob’s Big Boy Restaurant. This location would later become the very first full-service Tully’s Great Food & Good Times restaurant in 1991.
While many restaurant concepts have come and gone over the years, Tully’s has remained the driving force behind the company’s continued growth. Today, Tully’s continues to expand, building on a legacy of quality food, great value and memorable experiences. Tully’s quickly became famous for its ALWAYS FRESH, NEVER FROZEN, HAND-BATTERED, PREMIUM CHICKEN TENDERS. Alongside these renowned tenders, guests can enjoy a diverse selection of great tasting appetizers, fresh salads, hearty sandwiches, flavorful entrees, and delicious desserts. “The Best Burgers and Coldest Beer in Town” was an old slogan. This catchy phrase reflected Tully’s dedication to delivering exceptional food and a wide range of refreshing beverages, further cementing its place as a go-to destination for great food and good times.
1991
Hot, Fresh, Fast
As Tully’s Great Food & Good Times continued to grow and customer habits evolved, the team recognized the importance of meeting the demands of busy guests who wanted quality meals without sacrificing convenience. This led to a period of thoughtful consideration, during which they explored how best to deliver their renowned chicken tenders in a way that fit today’s fast-paced lifestyles. Extensive discussions, careful deliberations, enthusiastic debates, and thorough research into other successful fresh chicken tender concepts across the nation guided their efforts. Out of this process, Tully’s Tenders – HOT, FRESH, FAST was developed, offering guests the same premium chicken tenders with the speed and convenience that modern customers expect
2022
After developing the Tully’s Tenders concept, the question became: where would we launch our new idea? At the time, our Tully’s Tenders Food Truck was operating in Oswego, NY, serving up HOT, FRESH Tully’s Tenders in the parking lot of an old Friendly’s Ice Cream restaurant. We noticed a sign on the building that read “AVAILABLE.” It seemed like the perfect opportunity—there was an existing building, space for a drive-thru, and ample parking for our future guests who would want to dine in with us. Two years later, in March 2022, our vision became a reality when Tully’s Tenders at 192-194 West Bridge Street, Oswego, NY opened its doors for business.
Our Mission
At Tully’s, our mission is clear: we strive to serve our guests exceptional food at a great value, while delivering outstanding service in a lively and inviting atmosphere. Central to our commitment is producing “The Best Chicken Tenders on Earth®,” setting the standard for quality and taste. We are dedicated to providing our talented team members with an environment that fosters growth and development. By investing in our people, we ensure our guests always receive attentive and friendly service. Active engagement in the communities we serve is at the heart of who we are. Whether it’s supporting local charities, schools, or organizations, we believe in giving back and making a positive impact. Since our beginnings in 1968 in Batavia, NY as a fast-food restaurant, we have grown and evolved. The launch of our Tully’s Great Food Good Times full-service concept marked a new chapter, and with Tully’s Tenders fast-casual restaurant, we have returned to our roots in small-town hospitality. This journey brings us full circle, guided by principles of hard work, great food, excellent value, quality service, and attention to detail. We look forward to continuing to share these values and experiences at a Tullys near you.
