Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers Roasters is a chicken restaurant that was founded by country musician Kenny Rogers and former Kentucky governor John Y. Brown, Jr., who had also owned Kentucky Fried Chicken from 1964 to 1971. The menu was originally centered on wood-fired rotisserie chicken. After closing almost all of its U.S. operations, Kenny Rogers Roasters now operates primarily in Asia.
-------------------------------------------------
[edit]History
Kenny Rogers Roasters original logo. A similar logo is still being used by the company's Asia-Pacific franchises.
A branch of Kenny Rogers Roasters in SM City Clark, Angeles City, Philippines.
In 1991, Country singer/songwriter Kenny Rogers ventured into the fast-food business and co-founded Kenny Rogers Roasters with former KFC owner John Y. Brown, Jr. By 1995, the menu had expanded to include turkey, ribs, and various side dishes, and the chain had grown to over 350 restaurants, including locations in Canada, theMiddle East, and Asia. The establishment became so well known an entire episode of Seinfeld ("The Chicken Roaster") was dedicated to Kramer's love of Kenny Rogers Roasters chicken.
A former Kenny Rogers Roasters inSaginaw, Michigan.
The company entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March 1998[3] and was bought by Nathan's Famous, Inc. forUS$1.25 million[4][5] (US$2 million in more recent terms) on 1 April 1999; as a result of restructuring, many locations closed. By 2000, the chain was down to 90 franchised restaurants, 40 of those in the United States.[4]
Nathan's Famous divested itself of the chain in 2008, selling it to their Asian franchiser,[6] which is owned byBerjaya Group of Malaysia.[1] At the time, there was only one Kenny Rogers Roasters still operating in the United States, located in the Ontario Mills mall in Ontario, California. The 2008 purchase agreement allows for the continued operation of this location,[7] and allows Nathan's Famous and Miami Subs to continue selling Kenny Rogers Roasters items
-------------------------------------------------
[edit]History
Kenny Rogers Roasters original logo. A similar logo is still being used by the company's Asia-Pacific franchises.
A branch of Kenny Rogers Roasters in SM City Clark, Angeles City, Philippines.
In 1991, Country singer/songwriter Kenny Rogers ventured into the fast-food business and co-founded Kenny Rogers Roasters with former KFC owner John Y. Brown, Jr. By 1995, the menu had expanded to include turkey, ribs, and various side dishes, and the chain had grown to over 350 restaurants, including locations in Canada, theMiddle East, and Asia. The establishment became so well known an entire episode of Seinfeld ("The Chicken Roaster") was dedicated to Kramer's love of Kenny Rogers Roasters chicken.
A former Kenny Rogers Roasters inSaginaw, Michigan.
The company entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March 1998[3] and was bought by Nathan's Famous, Inc. forUS$1.25 million[4][5] (US$2 million in more recent terms) on 1 April 1999; as a result of restructuring, many locations closed. By 2000, the chain was down to 90 franchised restaurants, 40 of those in the United States.[4]
Nathan's Famous divested itself of the chain in 2008, selling it to their Asian franchiser,[6] which is owned byBerjaya Group of Malaysia.[1] At the time, there was only one Kenny Rogers Roasters still operating in the United States, located in the Ontario Mills mall in Ontario, California. The 2008 purchase agreement allows for the continued operation of this location,[7] and allows Nathan's Famous and Miami Subs to continue selling Kenny Rogers Roasters items