Why Can't Kentucky Fried Chicken Make it in the city? (Chicago: crime, theater)

[Huckleberry3911948]

IMHO KFC is great. lots more and better than popeye's. however,
i think people are feeling the gas crunch here and eating out less.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

Browns Chickens president and co-founder is Frank Portillo,brother of Dick Portillo-who founded Portillos. I am willing the bet the family has been investing in Portillos more than Browns, even before the slayings.

Actually, IIRC, there were plans to aggressively expand national franchising of the Brown's brand before the massacre made national headlines.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by Drover

Actually there were plans to begin national franchising of the Brown's brand before the massacre made national headlines.

They already were around outside of the Chicago area and had begun franchising nationally way before the tragedy. If anything, what occured scared away more potential franchisees for some stupid reason. Browns was on the decline nationally before Palatine.

[Lookout Kid]

The owner-couple killed in that Brown's slaying were my former next-door neighbor's daughter and son-in-law. It was truly a sad event.

[Careless]

It's definitely the health food issue. KFC is doing very well in Asia where that's not an issue.

(and please, KFC, bring your Asian spicy recipe to the American restaurants)

[BRU67]

Speaking of fried chicken, anyone try White Fence Farm? There's one near Ogden on Harlem in Riverside and a few others around the 'burbs. Really good stuff! And considerably less greasy than KFC or Popeye's. Also, they don't make it until you order it so it's a lot fresher than the chicken you see sitting in those bins for God knows how long at your typical KFC.

[ITChick]

I grew up in Chicago where the family went out to KFC for a special treat. I think back then, the places were cleaner and felt like somewhere to go to take the family. In the past years it seemed as though it hasn't felt that way as I noticed how filthy some of the places were before they closed.

KFC has also gotten some very bad press, from PETA and others on how the chickens are raised and slaughtered. That combined with the competition (Harolds Chicken Shack, Churches, Popeyes, etc.) probably didn't help keep them in business in many areas. I think people can put up with only so much uncleanliness and bad press before they realize they do have other choices.

[HockeyFan]

This person was in one of those mentioned specialities, and it was in a mid-sized market, not a major one.

[starchief5]

Nutrition issues aside, KFC has become inedible to me. If you ate at Kentucky Fried Chicken years ago, you'll know what I'm talking about. It used to be really good. Service? My granddaughter was a manager of a KFC and she was all of 17 years old.

All the fast food places used to have good-tasting food. There is not a single fast-food franchise now that has not let the taste of their food decline so much that us old timers will eat at them.

Too bad you younger folks missed out on them. What they once were will never be back.

[crbcrbrgv]

Here's one thing to consider. Chicago is becoming more Hispanic. Church's is a San Antonio based franchise that is popular in Texas and Mexico. And one thing I've learned having Mexican inlaws is Mexicans like Church's like Germans like David Hasselhoff! Their chicken is much crispier and the spicy chicken is also pretty good. They also have great corn and mashed potaotes. As Mexicans continue to spread out to all areas of Chicago and the suburbs, expect Church's to follow and get a lot more exposure. They are much better that 7 herbs and spices worth of mush that KFC serves.