Church's Chicken: A San Antonio-born Legacy
The first Church’s Fried Chicken-To-Go, 111 South Alamo Street.
George W. Church, Sr., courtesy of Church's Chicken.
On April 10, 1952, George W. Church, Sr., opened Church’s Fried Chicken-To-Go at 111 S. Alamo Street, the first of more than 1,600 Church’s Chicken locations worldwide. He advertised the stand as “across from the Alamo,” a clever marketing scheme since the stand was just a couple blocks south of the historic site.
In the early days, he sold two pieces of fried chicken and a biscuit for 49 cents; the company added French fries and jalapeños to the menu in 1955. George Sr. passed away in 1956, by which time the company had expanded to four locations in San Antonio. By 1962, when George Sr.’s son George W. “Bill” Church, Jr., took charge of the company, there were eight locations across the city.
The company became the first Texas-based chain to expand nationally in 1968, with 44 restaurants operating in and outside the state. It expanded into Canada in the 1970s.
Church’s Chicken continues to operate in 27 countries and, on April 10, 2022, celebrated the company’s 70th anniversary. To mark the occasion, District 1 City Councilmember Mario Bravo and staff from the Office of Historic Preservation and Church’s Chicken helped members of the Church family unveil the city’s first History Here marker across the street from that first Church’s Fried Chicken-To-Go stand.
San Antonio Light, Thursday, April 20, 1968, p. 2.
Watch this episode of There’s A Story Here, presented by OHP and Texas Public Radio, to learn more about Church’s Chicken, a San Antonio-born brand that’s served more than one billion hungry people worldwide, and see footage from the marker unveiling. OHP and TPR staff interviewed Catherine Jett, George Sr.’s first grandchild, and her husband Steve about the Church’s legacy and why it was important to recognize George Sr.’s accomplishments. The History Here marker celebrating Church’s Chicken is installed near the northwest corner of South Alamo Street and West Market Street in San Antonio and reads:
Founded by George W. Church, the first Church's Fried Chicken-To-Go opened in April 1952. The walk-up stand was located one block south of the Alamo and initially sold two pieces of chicken and a roll for 49 cents. The stand's large windows allowed customers to see into the kitchen and watch their order be prepared. CHURCH'S CHICKEN® was the first Texas-based chain to go national, and by its 70th year in business had more than 1,600 locations in 25 countries and international territories.
Learn about OHP’s Local Markers Program, which includes the History Here program, and watch all episodes of There’s A Story Here.
OHP and Church’s Chicken will share photos of you with the marker if you tag @SAPreservation and @ChurchsChicken on social media!
