Harold’s Chicken Shacks

Harold's Chicken 55 100 West 87th St, Chicago, IL| 773-224-3314 Harold's Chicken Shacks over 23 locations South Shore American Chicago Heights Fast Food Oak Lawn American Hazel Crest American Grand Boulevard American Hyde Park American South Loop American South Shore American Near South Side American South Chicago American Gage Park/Chicago Lawn American Dolton Fast Food Harold's Chicken Shacks Hazel Crest American Harold's Chicken Shacks Markham American Aurora American and Barbecue Harold Pierce, a black Chicago entrepreneur, founded the restaurant in 1950. The character of Harold's developed primarily out of necessity, because the larger fast food chains tended to avoid African-American neighborhoods. In turn, Chicago's legal and social obstacles to black-owned businesses at the time prevented Harold's from expanding into downtown or the North Side. Harold's became one of the few examples of a thriving fast food chain that was owned by, and primarily served, the black community. Harold's Chicken Shack (also referred to as The Fried Chicken King, Harold's Chicken, or simply Harold's) is a chain of fried chicken restaurants located primarily in Chicago, particularly on its South Side. Harold's has been a Chicago South Side institution for many years and is known for its uniquely prepared chicken. There are dozens of "shacks" on Chicago's South Side, and several on the West Side and a few, more recent, franchises are located on the North Side. Harold's Chicken is also available in the central Illinois town of Normal. Additionally, Harold's has opened franchises in Detroit, Milwaukee, Las Vegas, Madison, Wisconsin, and the Dallas area. In late June 2012, one opened in Atlanta.