Chicken George (restaurant chain) facts for kids
| Privately held company | |
| Industry | Restaurant chain and franchise |
| Fate | Dissolved due to bankruptcy |
| Founded | November 1979 in Baltimore, Maryland |
| Founder | Theodore Holmes |
| Defunct | September 1991 |
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Area served
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| Products | Fast food |
| Owner |
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Chicken George was a popular fast food restaurant chain that started in Baltimore, Maryland. Theodore Holmes opened the first restaurant in November 1979 at the Mondawmin Mall in Baltimore. The company grew quickly, opening six restaurants in Baltimore and expanding to other cities like Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C.. They also had franchise restaurants in places like Atlanta and Los Angeles. Sadly, Chicken George closed down in September 1991.
Contents
About Chicken George
How it Started
The restaurants were owned by a company called Joloj Industries, Inc., which Theodore Holmes founded. He chose the name "Chicken George" from a character in the famous book Roots: The Saga of an American Family.
At its busiest time, Chicken George had six restaurants in Baltimore, two in Philadelphia, and one in Washington D.C. There were also many franchise restaurants. The chain was incredibly popular in Baltimore. The Baltimore Afro-American newspaper said it "seemingly became a household name overnight." In 1980, Theodore Holmes even told the newspaper that his Baltimore restaurant was "the highest grossing single chicken outlet in the country." By 1982, the company made US$14 million in sales!
Growing Bigger with Franchises
Chicken George had franchise locations in cities like Atlanta and Los Angeles, and in other states. In January 1983, the company announced plans to open new restaurants in Oklahoma through a franchise agreement. This showed how much the company was growing!
Who Owned It
The company's ownership changed a few times. First, it was owned by Joloj Industries, Inc., Theodore Holmes's company. In January 1987, a group called George, Hill & Sons Management bought Chicken George. Then, in January 1989, Meldon S. Hollis Jr. bought the company. Finally, in September 1991, the company officially closed down.
What They Sold
Theodore Holmes spent a lot of money, about $750,000, to create the perfect chicken recipes for his restaurants. He and his staff tasted everything to make sure it was delicious!
The menu included chicken, chicken salad, gumbo, fish and chips, and many side dishes. Some popular sides were greens, biscuits, french fries, and rice. Chicken George decided not to serve pork products. Instead, they used beef to add flavor to their different dishes.
The Founder: Theodore Holmes
Theodore Holmes was the person who started Chicken George restaurants and was its main leader. In September 1991, The Baltimore Sun newspaper reported that Chicken George became the "largest black-owned fast-food company in the country" after it was created. Theodore Holmes passed away on November 29, 2011, at 72 years old.
Other Chicken George Restaurants (Not Related)
It's interesting to know that there are other restaurants named Chicken George in different parts of the world, but they are not connected to the original company from Baltimore.
For example, there's a different company in England that has restaurants called Chicken George in places like Round Green, Luton, and Sudbury, Suffolk. There's also another unrelated Chicken George in Sydney, Australia, which sells fried chicken and butcher items in suburbs like Randwick, Burwood, Marrickville, and Sylvania.
