Photo Credit: Envato Element
Chicago's Iconic Harold’s Chicken On 87th Street Closes Permanently
Harold’s Chicken #55, one of the chain’s most popular locations, is gone.
Its owner Percy Billings confirmed that the storefront at 100 W. 87th St. closed on Aug. 3.
A staple in the community and an iconic place for visitors to dine, Billings moved Harold’s into the storefront inside Chatham Ridge Shopping Center in 1992. It was one of the first businesses to move into the outdoor mall.
Billings said he wanted to stay there, but he was forced to shut down because of a dispute with the shopping center’s management company.
“The pandemic is still affecting my business,” Billings told Block Club Chicago. “I didn’t want to go, but with everything going on right now it made sense to close.”
He added that management company kept going up on his rent.
“They wanted me to pay $10,000 plus a percentage and sign a five-year lease,” he said. “The rent was $7,000 per month. We tried to work with them, but they didn’t give me no notice so I moved out.”
Fans can still get an order of three-piece wings fried hard (with mild sauce, of course) at Billing’s Harold’s Chicken Express location on the other side of the Dan Ryan, 8653 S. State St, near the Shell gas station.
Even more iconic than the chicken itself is the controversial debate of which Harold’s Chicken is the best Harold’s Chicken
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsIts crazy I been sayin 87th got the best harolds my whole life and it took the mfs having to close down for yall to admit it smh
— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) August 12, 2020
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsIt was shut down before the looting, the real loss was Kenwood’s liquor. The Harold’s on 75th is top tier btw.
— Auntee Rita Repulsa (@LovelyWerk) August 12, 2020
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsThat’s cus the one on 71st closed. 103rd fye too.
— Cash (@CokeHeadCash) August 12, 2020
No matter how you ranked the Harold’s Chicken, it’s truly a loss felt in the community.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsPlease check in on your Chicago people. We’ve had riots, a tornado, and the closing of the Harold’s Chicken Shack on 87th in one week. We are not okay. pic.twitter.com/oX0r2M3tgf
— Dr. Kris 🗳 🥕🧊 (@KrisVeeVee) August 15, 2020
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsThere is no chicken place better den Harold’s
— #TheBeardCollector👑✨💎💋 (@HOLLYandherEGO) August 12, 2020
