The story
Harold Pierce, an African-American entrepreneur who moved to Chicago in 1943, founded the restaurant on June 22, 1950, at the corner of 47th Street and Kenwood, near the estate where he worked as a chauffeur. Harold and his wife also operated a soul food restaurant on 39th street called the H&H (Harold&Hilda); their specialties were dumplings and chicken feet. Pierce differed from other fast-food innovators in his development of Harold's brand. He wanted each franchisor to develop its personality rather than forcing each to fit the same mold. Some Harold's restaurants are very informal, with takeaway chicken served by employees standing behind a window of bulletproof glass (originally introduced as a necessity rather than an aesthetic concern). Others offer the option to dine in. Harold's Chicken Shacks may or may not offer fountain drinks, additional menu items, catering services, or delivery. The only constants are the basic chicken dinners and the emblem of a cook chasing a chicken with a cleaver. Even this varies greatly, sometimes rendered in lights and sometimes hand-painted. Often, the cook is dressed like a king. Harold's restaurants are also referred to as "Harold's: The Fried Chicken King", which can be seen on many older South Side signs.
Harold's Chicken Shack is located primarily in Chicago, Illinois, with 40 locations across the city, particularly on its South Side, concentration in which is due in part to redlining, which limited Pierce's expansion opportunities to black neighborhoods. There are dozens of "shacks" on Chicago's South Side and the neighboring southern suburbs, several on the West Side, multiple west suburban locations (e.g., in Oak Park and Aurora) and a few on the city's North Side. In 2012, a location opened in Atlanta which featured a bar, called Harold's Chicken and Ice Bar. As of 2025, over 100 locations exist across the country, including three in Atlanta and one in Charlotte, which features a bar and hookah.
The daughter of founder Harold Pierce and CEO Kristen Pierce died January 2026.
From Wikipedia’s article on Harold's Chicken Shack, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3