Harold's Chicken #55 Express

Pandemic Forces Harold’s Chicken Maestro to Open North Side Ghost Kitchen | Eater Chicago

"Two months ago, pandemic-related financial pressures forced 79-year-old Percy Billings to move his iconic fried chicken into a North Side ghost kitchen and run a one-man operation out of a shared River West kitchen alongside Wendy’s and Fatburger after he closed his 87th Street spot in July when the landlord raised rent 40 percent. Bills mounted and he’s back cooking again; the original Harold’s is back open for pickup to avoid third-party commissions, while the ghost kitchen is offering pickup at 850 W. Superior Street or delivery via DoorDash. I was struck by the contrast between Billings grinding away alone and Harold’s downtown selling merchandise and shipping gallon jugs of mild sauce for $42—Billings has brought real credibility to the brand (he’s been repped by Chance the Rapper and at ComplexCon), and the Tribune urged customers to order direct from the 87th Street location to avoid hefty delivery fees as the city moves to cap commissions." - Ashok Selvam