Kenny Rogers Roasters

[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]

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]

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.