OUR STORY
Since 1950, Harold’s Chicken Shack (also referred to as Harold’s Chicken) has been Chicago Institution, particularly on the South Side of Chicago, and is well known for its uniquely prepared chicken and special sauces. Our founder, Harold Pierce, an African-American Chicago Business Man, developed the character of Harold’s primarily out of necessity, because the larger fast food chains tended to avoid the African-American neighborhoods in the city of Chicago. At that time, the legal and social obstacles in Chicago prevented Harold’s, and other black-owned businesses, from expanding into the downtown Chicago area, or the North Side of Chicago. As a result, Harold’s became one of the few examples of a thriving fast food chain that was owned by, and primarily served, the Chicago African-American Community.
In recent years, however, Harold’s Chicken has expanded not only on the South Side of Chicago and Suburban areas, but also on the West Side, and more recently on the North Side and in the downtown areas of Chicago. Harold’s Chicken locations have also been opened in Northwest Indiana, Detroit, Milwaukee, Las Vegas, Madison (WI), Dallas.
In June 2012, Harold’s re-opened its doors in the vibrant city of Atlanta, Georgia, as “Harold’s Chicken & Ice Bar”. Harold’s Chicken & Ice Bar was the first Harold’s franchise to transition from the traditional, informal “Harold’s Chicken Shack” which consisted of chicken primarily served as take-out orders by Harold’s employee’s, standing behind bulletproof glass windows (a necessity in light of many Harold’s locations in “rough” neighborhoods in Chicago), to a more traditional sit-down, sports bar atmosphere, with a full bar … serving beer, wine, and traditional and specialized cocktails. Harold’s Chicken & Ice Bar in Atlanta has served as the model for other similar locations that are now open in the city of Chicago (Harold’s Bar & Grill).
