Pioneer Chicken (or Pioneer Take Out, as it is officially named) is an American fried chicken restaurant which was founded in Echo Park, Los Angeles in 1961 by H.R. Kaufman. When Kaufman sold the chain in 1987, there were 270 stores operated by 220 franchisees.
During the 1970s, several locations operated in Honolulu on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. As of 2017, there are only two locations remaining - one in Boyle Heights (a part of East Los Angeles) and one in Bell Gardens, California.
Video Pioneer Chicken
Origins
It was named after Pioneer Market, a now-defunct small chain of supermarkets in Los Angeles. The original location in Echo Park was located next to the 1980s-era Pioneer Market (the original 1932 market was razed in the 1980s due to the Sylmar earthquake) at Echo Park Avenue and Sunset Boulevard, which was replaced by a Walgreens Pharmacy in 2004. Due to considerable redevelopment activity in the neighborhood caused by gentrification, it was shut down in March 2009 and replaced by a Little Caesar's Pizza the following year. During the 1980s, Los Angeles Lakers announcer Chick Hearn and former football player O.J. Simpson used to advertise for the restaurant.
Maps Pioneer Chicken
AFC Enterprises acquisition
In 1993, Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits owner AFC Enterprises purchased the franchise and converted most locations to Popeyes.
Locations
There are two remaining locations in the Los Angeles area: 1) 904 S. Soto Street, Los Angeles; 2) 6323 E. Florence Avenue, Bell Gardens.
In Indonesia
In 1983, three alumni from the University of Southern California decided to open a Pioneer Chicken franchise in Jakarta under the name California Fried Chicken.
As of 2013, the parent company of the stores in Indonesia, Pioneerindo Gourmet International, have over 200 CFC restaurants throughout that nation. CFC had a few franchises in Shanghai during the 1990s, but they may not currently exist.
In popular culture
Warren Zevon's song "Carmelita" refers to Pioneer Chicken: "I pawned my Smith Corona/And I went to meet my man / He hangs out down on Alvarado Street/By the Pioneer chicken stand". In The Aquabats' 1997 song "Magic Chicken!", the singer invites the listener to "Do the Pioneer!" during a funk breakdown where various chicken restaurant franchises are named.
The opening of the film The Last American Virgin shows a Pioneer Chicken location at the northeast corner of Hollywood & Western in the background as the protagonist Gary (Lawrence Monoson), drives off making a pizza delivery. The same location is shown in one scene in Death Wish II and towards the end of the music video for DeBarge's "Rhythm Of The Night". The same location's likeness is shown as The Simpsons' family home in the "Time and Punishment" segment of Treehouse Of Horror V.
A Pioneer Chicken location is briefly shown in the background in the 1982 film Fast Times at Ridgemont High during the restaurant scene involving the dissatisfied customer. The site was located on San Vicente Boulevard in Brentwood, Los Angeles. The Silverlake location can be seen in the background of The Hollywood Strangler Meets the Skid Row Slasher.
A Pioneer Chicken outlet is shown at the beginning of Armed And Dangerous when one of the film's protagonists, Frank Dooley (John Candy) is on patrol just before he is framed.
In the first season opening montage of the television series Full House, a jumbo pack box of chicken is shown next to baby Michelle with the slogan "Home of the Golden Pioneer Chicken" on the side. This montage is also seen in the first episode of the reboot Fuller House.
The pilot episode of The White Shadow shows Pioneer Chicken in the last 15 minutes of the episode as the team travels down the boulevard.
Pioneer Chicken was also seen in the "Brat Patrol" episode of the TV series CHiPs.
See also:
- List of fast-food chicken restaurants
References
Further reading
- "Pioneer Chicken in Bankruptcy; Most Stores to Remain Open". Los Angeles Times. January 27, 1991. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
- Vintage Pioneer Chicken Sign Heading to Museum Los Angeles Magazine March 2, 2016
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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