Coon Chicken Inn facts for kids

The Coon Chicken Inn was a chain of three restaurants in the United States. It was started by Maxon Lester Graham and Adelaide Burt in 1925. The restaurants were popular for a while, but they closed down by the late 1950s.

The name of the restaurant, Coon, is a very offensive word. It is a racial slur used to insult Black people. The restaurants also used images that were harmful. Their signs and entrances looked like a smiling cartoon face of a Black person. This cartoon face was a trademark and appeared on menus, dishes, and other items. These images were based on old, hurtful stereotypes. Because people started to understand how offensive these things were, the restaurant chain closed in 1957.

Where Were These Restaurants?

The very first Coon Chicken Inn opened in 1925 in Salt Lake City, Utah. A few years later, in 1929, another restaurant opened in Lake City, Seattle. Then, in 1931, a third location opened in the Hollywood District of Portland, Oregon. There were plans for a fourth restaurant in Spokane, Washington, but it never opened.

Over time, the restaurants in Seattle and Salt Lake City added more features. They had a cabaret, live music with an orchestra, and even offered catering services.

What Happened to the Locations?

The Portland restaurant closed in 1949. It was later changed into a different restaurant. Today, a place called Clyde's Prime Rib is at that spot. The Seattle location also closed in 1949 and is no longer there. A restaurant called The Growler Guys is now at that address. The last Coon Chicken Inn to close was the one in Salt Lake City. It shut down in 1957. A furniture store is now located where it used to be.

Coon Chicken Inn in Movies

An old poster used to advertise Coon Chicken Inn was shown in a movie. It was a plot device in the 2001 film called Ghost World. This movie is a black comedy.