Kenny Rogers Roasters

Started by retailisking, April 19, 2012, 08:39:51 PM

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retailisking

This chain named after the country star rode the wave of the rotisserie chicken craze of the 90s (as did Boston Chicken/Market) before going bankrupt in 1998.  The one closest to me in Lewiston, ME closed on July 14, 1996:

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1914&dat=19960710&id=8SYgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_GoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5963,1668936

It's now a Pizza Hut:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=875+sabattus+street+lewiston&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x4cb26c71303684c3:0xe20c315dc8d25317,875+Sabattus+St,+Lewiston,+ME+04240&gl=us&ei=A3eQT4T9EsPrrQeKt-z2BA&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CCEQ8gEwAA

After the bankruptcy filing KRR had a number of owners as the US presence of the chain faded until there was only one location remaining, which sadly closed last December:

http://www.insidesocal.com/dine909/2011/12/ontario-mills-big-food-gets-mu.html

The chain's current owner is the franchisee for Asia, where it's thriving:

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2084444,00.html

shore72

The closest I ever got to a KRR was watching that episode of Seinfeld! I used to be a huge fan of Boston Market but hold a grudge against them now: in '97 I inherited an investment and was advised by a broker to put it into a corporate bond with Boston Chicken. It seemed like a safe bet to me, what with that great food. Within a couple months of handing over my money, the company began circling the drain. All I got after the bankruptcy was a tax write-off....they could have at least sent me a coupon for a free dinner!

retailisking

Ever since the Boston Chicken implosion I've been wary of any chain that seems to be expanding too quickly.

ynkeesfn82

There was one in Southington, CT on Queen Street briefly. It's where People's Bank is now I believe.

Zayre88

Didn't knew that they once had a location in Maine!

retailisking

Quote from: Zayre88 on April 20, 2012, 04:28:08 PM
Didn't knew that they once had a location in Maine!

I only ate there once. It was a memorable experience; that roaring wood fire over the rotisserie made quite a dramatic impression, and it really did impart a different flavor to the finished product. Still, it must have been a very expensive concept to operate, especially in the lull between lunch and dinner. Of all the chain restaurant fads, I miss the rotisserie chicken craze the most.

JimSawhill

Quote from: retailisking on April 19, 2012, 08:39:51 PM
This chain named after the country star rode the wave of the rotisserie chicken craze of the 90s (as did Boston Chicken/Market) before going bankrupt in 1998.  The one closest to me in Lewiston, ME closed on July 14, 1996:

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1914&dat=19960710&id=8SYgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_GoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5963,1668936

It's now a Pizza Hut:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=875+sabattus+street+lewiston&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x4cb26c71303684c3:0xe20c315dc8d25317,875+Sabattus+St,+Lewiston,+ME+04240&gl=us&ei=A3eQT4T9EsPrrQeKt-z2BA&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CCEQ8gEwAA

After the bankruptcy filing KRR had a number of owners as the US presence of the chain faded until there was only one location remaining, which sadly closed last December:

http://www.insidesocal.com/dine909/2011/12/ontario-mills-big-food-gets-mu.html

The chain's current owner is the franchisee for Asia, where it's thriving:

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2084444,00.html

had 3 meals at KRR in the Manchester Parkade....Good meals, but Boston Market (nee Chicken) was cheaper.

TheFugitive

They had a store in West Mifflin, PA near the Service Merchandise store when I worked.  It was open not even a year. This was 1994 as I recall. I never ate there but some of my employees who did complained that it was rather expensive.  There is now an Arby's on that site.