Frenchy's Chicken is a chain of restaurants in Houston, Texas that sells Louisiana Creole cuisine. Founded in 1969 by Percy "Frenchy" Creuzot Jr.
In 2010 Allan Turner of Houston Chronicle wrote that the original location, still operated by the founding family, and the location of the chain-operated jointly have "loyal customers". Houston R & amp; B artist BeyoncÃÆ' Â © Knowles makes reference to the chains in his music.
Video Frenchy's Chicken
Histori
In 1969 Percy "Frenchy" Creuzot Jr., a native of New Orleans who had traveled to Houston for sales work, and Sallie, his wife, founded the restaurant. The original restaurant, in the Third Ward area, is close to the University of Houston and the University of South Texas. Creuzot's wife has operated the original location.
Creuzot opened a shop by renting out stores in the Third Ward area for $ 2,000 ($ 13346.64 when adjusted for inflation). Creuzot originally planned to name the restaurant "Etienne" after a brief form of his daughter's middle name. Creuzot stated that a friend believed that potential customers would not know how to spell or pronounce it or find it in the phone book, so he suggested "Frenchy's Po-Boys" as a name.
The original restaurant opened on 3 July 1969. On that day, the restaurant received $ 14 ($ 93.43 when adjusted for inflation). Creuzot used a shoebox to save money until he had enough money to buy a cash register. During the summer, the business slowly increased. As students begin attending classes in the fall, the business is increasing tremendously.
Initially Creuzot restaurant sells red beans and rice, hot sausage, and oyster bread. The car dealer adjacent to the restaurant, Jesse Hearns, advised and persuaded Creuzot to add fried chicken to the menu. Creuzot states that Hearns went to a restaurant and cooked chicken for him, and "If he does not, I probably will not." Hearns argues that Creuzot did not have to teach Houstonian how to eat fried chicken while he had to teach them how to eat other Louisiana food types, and that Houstonians are familiar with fried chicken; if Houstonians like fried chicken, Creuzot will be able to introduce them to other types of food. Creuzot received a recipe for fried chicken from a family friend in New Orleans and Creuzot himself slightly modified the recipe. The name of the restaurant changed to "Frenchy's Creole-Fried Chicken". In 1985, the chicken produced more than 75% of Creuzot's business. Creuzot earned the nickname "French" because people associate the name of the restaurant with him.
To compete with the Chicken's Church location across the street and less than a block away, Creuzot made the time close later, until 5 am. In a late night operation he collects money before making a meal, and he only serves fried chicken and fries. Creuzot often starts frying chicken only after the Church closes.
The Handbook of Texas states that the original restaurant became a "training ground" for Creuzot family members.
1970s
In 1974, when interviewed by the Houston Chronicle, Creuzot stated that he was satisfied with the financial performance of the original restaurant but he wanted to be on the Black Company's list of the top 100 businesses owned by blacks in the United States.
Creuzot decided to open more locations after a competing business opened near Frenchy. The second Frenchy was opened in 1979. Within six months after competitors appeared, four new French locations were opened.
1980s
In 1983, France was ranked 89th, with annual sales of $ 7.5 million, in the Black Enterprise rankings. In 1984, he was ranked 90th, with $ 1 million per restaurant location and total sales of $ 11 million. Throughout 1984, total sales eventually reached more than $ 12 million. In 1985 it fell to $ 96. The recognition that the French received as a successful black business. At that time the original restaurant alone had annual sales of $ 1.6 million. In 1985 there were 12 French restaurants in Greater Houston. At that time there was a restaurant in Southwest Houston devoted to younger and trendier adults, and there was a restaurant near the River Oaks.
In 1986, the company leased 2,687-square-feet (249.6m 2 ) Bo Jangle's Restaurant along Farm to Market Road 1960.
In 1987 the company had 12 restaurants owned by the company, all in Houston, and four franchises, with some in Houston and some in San Antonio and Dallas. Starting in 1985 the company's revenue decreased due to the 1980s oil bust; the fact that all of the company-owned restaurants are in Houston makes it vulnerable to the economic downturn in the city. On Thursday 30 April 1987, Frenchy filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, affecting only the location of the company. At that time the company had $ 1.5 million in secure assets and $ 506,438 in unsecured assets. French's Sausage Co. not part of bankruptcy proceedings.
In 1988, the Houston City Council approved a plan to borrow $ 700,000 ($ 14,484,452.45 with inflation) in federal funds to the chain to help it. The city council approved a loan to keep jobs for the black community of Houston. Under the terms of the agreement, Creuzot must have the value of the property set up for collateral at an amount equal to the loan, with a deadline of December 31, 1988. Creuzot states that with other loans, the City of Houston never requires 100% guarantee. Mike Marcotte, the active planning director of the city government, stated that Frenchy's is the first loan approved by the city council for a company in bankruptcy court, and therefore the city requires 100% collateral.
In a letter dated April 7, 1989, Marcotte informed Creuzot that Frenchy did not meet the terms of the agreement. On the day of the deadline, his property is valued at $ 350,000; the city government estimates it will be $ 1.3 million. In response, Creuzot writes that the valuation at $ 350,000 "is not even close to assessing the land itself without a 50,000-square-foot building on it." If there's a crime, it's definitely not our part. " Creuzot added that the Harris County Appraisal District had valued his property at $ 499,980 in 1987, with an increase of $ 616,320, and also that Frenchy had been trying to meet loan conditions for several months.
Until April 1989, the chain has 10 restaurants. On June 1 of that year, five French locations contained notice of foreclosure. After bankruptcy protection, Creuzot lost control of all his restaurants. Percy III, Creuzot's son, took over the original restaurant. Angele, Creuzot's daughter, began operating a restaurant with South Shepherd in Neartown. A. Grace Development mastered five French restaurants; A. Grace is operated by former Creuzot employee, Darryl Hall.
1990s
The South Greeting Restaurant was closed in January 1990. A. Grace applied for Chapter 11 in 1990. In April 1991 A. Grace appeared from Chapter 11.
2000s
In the 2000s, the French consisted only of original restaurants and accompanying restaurants, as well as in the Third Ward. Both are owned by the Creuzot family. The satellite location is inside the supermarket, H-E-B. For years, France has only these locations.
In 2001 3131 Properties and Frenchy's agreed to own several new restaurants operated by Glennlock Foods, an operating company that does business as "Frenchy". Creuzot stated that he did not want to do the franchise at first, but that the CEO, a former Houston Texans player named Aaron Glen, was "an imposing and genuine man, we gave him a limited franchise network of ten stores." Creuzot himself trained chefs who would work in a franchised restaurant. In June 2005 the first restaurant under the agreement opened in Missouri City and the following restaurant opened in Houston. In 2009 the seventh Glennlock location opened in northwest Harris County along Farm to Market Road 1960.
On Sunday June 6, 2010, Frenchy Creuzot Jr. died of a stroke.
Maps Frenchy's Chicken
Cuisine
The signature food item is fried chicken. In addition to fried chicken and fries, other foods include dirty rice, gumbo, and jambalaya. At first the restaurant sells red beans and rice, hot sausage, and oyster bread.
Location
In 2014, locations include original restaurants and H-E-B satellites in Third Territories; the following franchise restaurants in Houston City: Bellaire/Kirkwood (Alief), MLK, and Wilcrest/Murphy (Brays Oaks); and franchised restaurants in unrelated areas of Harris County: Aldine Mail-Route, Antoine, Crosby and Katy (close but not in Katy City). The new location is currently being built north of Houston along Farm to Market 1960 in the west of the I-45 corridor.
In 2011 Minh T. Truong from Houston Press reported that the original restaurant received its charms from the quality of the food and from the "old and a bit shabby" facility with a parking lot that only allowed entry and exit in one direction, along the way drive-through window.
Reception
In 2011 Truong wrote that the food at the original location was "good, very good, some say it's the best in Houston, but no one can doubt it's a soothing meal." Regarding the location of the chain, Truong writes, "It's hard to say that Frenchy's location is really bad when you want it, but the location on Freeway Southwest leaves a lot to be desired." Ro B wrote a song that mentions French. In the third verse, Ro sings, "I love red beans and French rice, and slams of spicy peanut butter and fried chicken, if it's hot, no, say I do not like oh yes."
French French Sausage Company
The same family that owns the original location also operates French's Sausage Co. Founded in 1977, and given to Creuzot's son, Percy III. It sells sausages and bacon to an independent grocery store and restaurant.
See also
- African-American history in Houston
- Our Mother Catholic Church of Mercy (the Creole Catholic Church)
- Ninfa (chain of Mexican-American restaurants based in Houston)
- Kim S? n (Houston-based chain of Vietnamese-American restaurants)
References
External links
- Official website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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