Harold’s Chicken is set to open at 3061 George Busbee Pky NW in Kennesaw. According to lease intel, it will be a part of Bixby, an off-campus apartment complex for students of Kennesaw State University.
24-hour study lounges, a game room, computer lab, fitness center, and pool are just some of the featured amenities offered at Bixby. Restaurants within the neighborhood include The Honey Baked Ham Company, La Madeleine, Sbarro, Outback Steakhouse and Olive Garden Italian Restaurant.
Harold’s will be one of the first restaurants to open directly at the Bixby development. It will occupy suite 2, a 1,581-square-foot space, on the first floor. The owner said they are “going into construction right now,” with an opening being eyed for Spring of next year.
Harold’s Chicken currently has three other locations in Georgia – 349 Edgewood Ave SE, Atlanta; 5495 Old National Hwy B11-B12, College Park; and 1477 Roswell Rd, Marietta.
Franchise restaurants are also in operation in Arizona, California, Indiana, Missouri, Nevada and, of course, Illinois – the brand’s home state.
Founded in 1950 by African-American Chicago entrepreneur, Harold Pierce, and wife, Hilda, the original restaurant was named H&H. It specialized in dumplings and chicken feet on 39th Street in Chicago, primarily serving the Black community due to legal and social obstacles that were faced at the time. Since then, it has grown significantly while staying true to its Windy City roots.
Two things that sets Harold’s Chicken apart from other fast food chicken restaurants can be found in its cooking style – first, chicken is cooked in a mix of half beef tallow and half vegetable oil, while most chains use only vegetable oil. Second, chicken is cooked only after it is ordered, in order to preserve its freshly cooked taste.
The original Harold’s Chicken dinner includes a half or quarter chicken served with french fries, two pieces of white bread, and a cup of cole slaw. Other menu items include chicken tenders, livers, and gizzards; chicken salads, wraps, and sandwiches; fish and shrimp, and sides such as okra, fried green tomatoes, and broccoli cheese bites.
Harold’s Chicken (and Ice Bar) on Edgewood Ave is one of Atlanta’s entertainment hot spots. It was developed as a laid-back sports bar with unique menu items like Italian beef, potato skins, and cocktails. It is not clear if the forthcoming Bixby location will have a special element to it.
