Frenchy's Chicken facts for kids
Frenchy's Chicken is a popular restaurant chain. It started in Houston, Texas. They sell delicious Louisiana Creole cuisine. This means food inspired by Louisiana's unique culture.
A man named Percy "Frenchy" Creuzot Jr. opened the first restaurant in 1969.
Many people love Frenchy's Chicken. They have a very loyal group of customers. Even famous singer Beyoncé Knowles has mentioned Frenchy's in her music!
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History of Frenchy's Chicken
In 1969, Percy "Frenchy" Creuzot Jr. and his wife, Sallie, started the restaurant. Percy was from New Orleans. He came to Houston for sales work.
Their first restaurant was in the Third Ward area. It was close to the University of Houston and Texas Southern University. Sallie helped run this first location.
Percy started the restaurant by renting a small space. He used $2,000 to open it. This would be worth about $16,000 today. He first thought of naming it "Etienne." This was a shorter version of his daughter's middle name. But a friend told him people might not know how to spell or say it. So, they decided on "Frenchy's Po-Boys."
The first Frenchy's opened on July 3, 1969. On that day, they only made $14. Percy used a shoebox to keep the money. He did this until he had enough to buy a cash register. Business slowly grew over the summer. When college students returned in the fall, sales really took off!
How Fried Chicken Joined the Menu
At first, Frenchy's sold red beans and rice, hot sausage, and oyster loaf. A car dealer next door, Jesse Hearns, had a great idea. He told Percy to add fried chicken to the menu.
Percy said Jesse even cooked the first chicken for him. "If he hadn't, I probably wouldn't," Percy said. Jesse believed people in Houston already knew fried chicken. He thought if they liked the chicken, they would try other Louisiana foods.
Percy got a fried chicken recipe from a friend in New Orleans. He made a few changes to it. The restaurant's name then changed to "Frenchy's Creole-Fried Chicken." By 1985, chicken made up over 75% of their sales. Percy became known as "Frenchy" because of the restaurant's name.
To compete with another chicken place nearby, Percy stayed open later. He would close at 5 AM. During these late hours, he only sold fried chicken and french fries. He often started cooking right after the other restaurant closed.
The original Frenchy's became a place where family members learned the business.
Frenchy's in the 1970s and 1980s
In 1974, Percy was happy with his restaurant's success. He wanted Frenchy's to be on a list of top Black-owned businesses.
Percy decided to open more locations. This happened after another restaurant opened near his first one. The second Frenchy's opened in 1979. Soon after, four more Frenchy's locations opened within six months.
By 1983, Frenchy's was doing very well. It was ranked 89th on the Black Enterprise list. They had sales of $7.5 million that year. By 1985, there were 12 Frenchy's restaurants in Greater Houston.
Tough Times and Recovery
In the mid-1980s, the company faced some challenges. The economy in Houston was not doing well. This affected Frenchy's because all their restaurants were in Houston.
In 1987, Frenchy's had to ask for special protection to reorganize its business. This helped them deal with their debts. The city of Houston even approved a loan to help Frenchy's. This was to help save jobs for the community.
After these tough times, Percy Creuzot Jr. lost control of some restaurants. But his son, Percy III, took over the original restaurant. His daughter, Angele, started running another location.
Frenchy's in the 2000s
By the 2000s, Frenchy's mainly had the original restaurant. They also had another small location in a supermarket. Both were owned by the Creuzot family.
In 2001, Frenchy's made a deal with a company called Glennlock Foods. This company would open new Frenchy's restaurants. Percy Creuzot Jr. even trained the cooks for these new places. The first new restaurant opened in Missouri City in 2005. More opened in Houston after that.
Sadly, Percy "Frenchy" Creuzot Jr. passed away in 2010.
Frenchy's Cuisine
The most famous food item at Frenchy's is their delicious fried chicken. Besides chicken and french fries, they also serve other tasty dishes. These include dirty rice, gumbo, and jambalaya. When they first opened, they sold red beans and rice, hot sausage, and oyster loaf.
Frenchy's Locations
As of 2020, Frenchy's has several locations. The original restaurant is on Scott Street in the Third Ward. There are also many franchised restaurants across Houston.
The original restaurant is known for its great food. It has an "old and a little rundown" building. It also has a special drive-through window for quick service.
Frenchy's Sausage Company
The same family that owns the original Frenchy's restaurant also runs Frenchy's Sausage Co. This company started in 1977. Percy Creuzot Jr.'s son, Percy III, took charge of it. They sell sausage and meats to grocery stores and other restaurants.
