Chicken joint calls it quits
The Church's Chicken at the corner of North Decatur Road and Church Street, near Decatur, has closed. The restaurant, which seemed destined for closure given the development around it, quietly shuttered within the past 48 hours. Permanent signage has been removed from all portions of the property aside from two forgotten promotional signs in the grass out front.
The Decatur area restaurant was reportedly a franchised unit, owned and operated by "FRIS CHKN LLC," a franchisee who once had nearly 200 Church's restaurants.
Church's, previously part of AFC Enterprises, was once paired with its larger rival, Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits. Following AFC's 2004 sale of Church's to First Islamic Investment Bank (today known as Arcapita), the two brands once again became independent entities with Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Inc (the new name of AFC) growing far larger. Interestingly, both corporations are based in metro Atlanta.
Overall, Church's, which still operates a number of metro Atlanta locations, has been on retrenchment rather than expansion mode in the metro area. Following the North Decatur closure, the next closest Church's are on Candler Road, Moreland Avenue, Mountain Industrial Boulevard and Bankhead Highway, none especially convenient for those in the Decatur area.
Church's, which once operated a location on Ponce de Leon Avenue and Boulevard, opened in a converted KFC in 2011 before closing in early 2013.
As Zaxby's, Chick-fil-A, Popeyes and most recently, Bojangles' continue to expand in metro Atlanta, it will be interesting to see how Church's fares.
The Church's in Decatur, which still appears on the corporate website and is still active for agents at the company's call center, could be an ideal parcel for a bank.
Given the Fuqua Development project (Decatur Crossing) next door, newly redeveloped Suburban Plaza center catty-corner and the upcoming 365 by Whole Foods Market-anchored center across the street, the Church's property, while only six tenths of an acre, will surely be in demand.
What would you like to see open in place of Church's? What Decatur area project are you most excited about? If a bank does open on the property, which bank do you think it will be?
Please share your thoughts below.
6 comments:
NOOOO!!! I just ate there last week :( No more fried okra and crispy chicken thighs with delightful fluffy biscuits :(
I would like to see a Mrs. Winner's in there, since you ask, but I'm sure it will be taken over by something tall that attracts a lot of traffic.
I’m not really a big fan of fast-food fried chicken, but did eat there once when my mother was in the hospital at DeKalb Medical. The food was edible and cheap which might be a good thing for someone with a friend or family member in the hospital who is short on time and/or money. I suspect there are still some good options in the area and who knows maybe some healthier places might pop up.
The last time I ate grease with my chicken from Church's was about 20 years ago. Vowed never to do so again, though I do remember getting a 2-piece and a biscuit in high school after getting high after the football games on Friday nights.
That was one of the best Church's Chicken locations. I guess nobody in North Decatur likes fried chicken. First KFC, then Mrs.Winners now Church's.
Nobody wants mutated chicken the size of a Jason's Deli baked potato. Their headquarters should be in Texas, with the size of the chicken that they serve!
There are no more Ms Winner's
Out of business
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