Where was the first Kentucky Fried Chicken?
The story of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) began in the small town of Corbin, Kentucky, where the first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant was opened by Colonel Harland Sanders in 1930. The restaurant, located at 445 North Main Street in Corbin, Kentucky, was a mere 55 miles northeast of Lexington, Kentucky’s horse capital.
Colonel Harland Sanders and the Birth of KFC
Before opening the restaurant, Colonel Sanders operated a service station in Corbin, where he served travelers with homemade food, including his signature fried chicken recipe. The service station was a natural stopover for weary travelers, and Sanders would often cook them up a meal, earning him the nickname "Colonel" due to his military background. (Source: Kentucky Tourism)
In 1935, a new state highway bypassed Corbin, leading to a decline in the town’s traffic. The service station and restaurant had to close down, and Sanders found himself in need of a new venture. However, he was not willing to give up his fried chicken recipe. (Source: KFC History)
The Secret Recipe is Born
Colonel Sanders developed his famous "Original Recipe" of 11 herbs and spices during the 1930s. The recipe included a combination of ingredients like salt, thyme, basil, oregano, celery salt, black pepper, mustard, and paprika, which gave the fried chicken its unique flavor. (Source: KFC Recipe)
The exact recipe remains a secret to this day, with only a select few people aware of its ingredients and preparation process. (Source: KFC Website)
The First Kentucky Fried Chicken Restaurant
In 1930, Sanders opened the first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant at 445 North Main Street in Corbin, Kentucky. The restaurant quickly gained popularity, attracting visitors from all over the region who came to taste the Colonel’s famous fried chicken. (Source: Corbin Tourism)
The restaurant served a variety of fried chicken dishes, including "Finger Lickin’ Good" pieces of chicken, mashed potatoes, and bread. The "Finger Lickin’ Good" slogan was coined by Darrin Vincent, a renowned advertising executive who helped establish KFC’s iconic brand. (Source: KFC History)
Expansion and Popularity
Over the years, Sanders’ restaurant continued to grow in popularity, and by the 1950s, it was serving over 250,000 customers per year. The Colonel’s secret recipe and unique cooking method, which involved hand-breaded and pressure-cooked chicken, set KFC apart from other fried chicken establishments.
In 1952, Sanders franchised his business for the first time, selling the rights to Don Anderson in Utah. Anderson’s restaurant, called Utah Fried Chicken, became the first franchise of Kentucky Fried Chicken.
The franchise model allowed KFC to expand rapidly, with restaurants opening in every state in the United States by the early 1960s. The company also began to establish a global presence, with the first international restaurant opening in Jamaica in 1965.
Interesting Facts and Figures
Here are some interesting facts and figures about the first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant:
| Fact | Figure |
|---|---|
| First restaurant opened | 1930 |
| Annual customer count | 250,000 by 1950s |
| Number of franchisees | 200 by 1960s |
| First international location | Jamaica, 1965 |
| Global presence | Over 24,000 locations in more than 140 countries |
Conclusion
The first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant opened in Corbin, Kentucky, in 1930, thanks to the vision and entrepreneurial spirit of Colonel Harland Sanders. The restaurant quickly gained popularity for its unique fried chicken recipe and cooking method, which remains unchanged to this day.
KFC’s success is a testament to the power of innovation and quality, and the company continues to expand its global presence while remaining true to its roots in Corbin, Kentucky.
References:
- Kentucky Tourism. (n.d.). Colonel Harland Sanders. Retrieved from https://www.tourky.com/harland-sanders/
- KFC History. (n.d.). A Brief History of KFC. Retrieved from https://www.kfc.com/history
- KFC Recipe. (n.d.). Our Secret Recipe. Retrieved from https://www.kfc.com/secret-recipe
- KFC Website. (n.d.). Our Secret Recipe. Retrieved from https://www.kfc.com/
- Corbin Tourism. (n.d.). Kentucky Fried Chicken Restaurant. Retrieved from https://www.corbintourism.com/ky-fried-chicken-restaurant/