Kenny Rogers Roasters
Encyclopedia
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
.
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
, the Middle 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.
The company entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March 1998 and was bought by Nathan's Famous, Inc. for US$
1.25 million (US$ 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.
Nathan's Famous divested itself of the chain in 2008, selling it to their Asian franchiser, which is owned by Berjaya Group
of Malaysia. 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, and allows Nathan's Famous and Miami Subs to continue selling Kenny Rogers Roasters items in their restaurants. Nathan's continues to serve Kenny Rogers Roasters items in select locations, such as its flagship location on Coney Island
, and Miami Subs (since sold off by Nathan's) also has a "Kenny Rogers" section on their menu.
Despite the chain's steep decline in the United States, Kenny Rogers Roasters continues to flourish in Asia, particularly in Malaysia. and the Philippines
. Some branches in the Philippines also serve Seattle's Best Coffee
products.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
musician Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers
Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur...
and former Kentucky governor John Y. Brown, Jr.
John Y. Brown, Jr.
This article is about one of four John Young Browns, from Kentucky, that have served political office. For others see: John Young Brown ...
, who had also owned Kentucky Fried Chicken
KFC
KFC, founded and also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is a chain of fast food restaurants based in Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. KFC has been a brand and operating segment, termed a concept of Yum! Brands since 1997 when that company was spun off from PepsiCo as Tricon Global...
from 1964 to 1971. The menu was originally centered on wood-fired
Wood-fired oven
Wood-fired ovens, also known as wood ovens , are ovens that use wood fuel for cooking. There are two types of wood-fired ovens: "black ovens" and "white ovens"...
rotisserie
Rotisserie
Rotisserie is a style of roasting where meat is skewered on a spit - a long solid rod used to hold food while it is being cooked over a fire in a fireplace or over a campfire, or roasted in an oven. This method is generally used for cooking large joints of meat or entire animals, such as pigs,...
chicken. After closing almost all of its U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
operations, Kenny Rogers Roasters now operates primarily in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
.
History
In 1991, CountryCountry music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer/songwriter Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers
Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur...
ventured into the fast-food business and co-founded Kenny Rogers Roasters with former KFC
KFC
KFC, founded and also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is a chain of fast food restaurants based in Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. KFC has been a brand and operating segment, termed a concept of Yum! Brands since 1997 when that company was spun off from PepsiCo as Tricon Global...
owner John Y. Brown, Jr.
John Y. Brown, Jr.
This article is about one of four John Young Browns, from Kentucky, that have served political office. For others see: John Young Brown ...
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
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. The establishment became so well known an entire episode of Seinfeld
Seinfeld
Seinfeld is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, lasting nine seasons, and is now in syndication. It was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the latter starring as a fictionalized version of himself...
("The Chicken Roaster
The Chicken Roaster
"The Chicken Roaster" is the 142nd episode of the sitcom Seinfeld. This was the 8th episode for the 8th season. It aired on November 14, 1996.-Kramer:...
") was dedicated to Kramer's love of Kenny Rogers Roasters chicken.
The company entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March 1998 and was bought by Nathan's Famous, Inc. for US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
1.25 million (US$ 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.
Nathan's Famous divested itself of the chain in 2008, selling it to their Asian franchiser, which is owned by Berjaya Group
Berjaya Group
-Corporate Profile:The Berjaya Corporation group of companies’ history dates back to 1984 when the Chairman, Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Vincent Tan Chee Yioun acquired a major controlling stake in Berjaya Industrial Berhad from the founders, Broken Hill Proprietary Ltd, Australia and National Iron & Steel...
of Malaysia. At the time, there was only one Kenny Rogers Roasters still operating in the United States, located in the Ontario Mills
Ontario Mills
Ontario Mills is a large enclosed shopping mall, calling itself an outlet mall. It is located in Ontario, California and it is one of the primary tourist attractions in the Inland Empire. It is located across the street from the former site of the Ontario Motor Speedway. Like all other Mills...
mall in Ontario, California
Ontario, California
Ontario is a city located in San Bernardino County, California, United States, 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. Located in the western part of the Inland Empire region, it lies just east of the Los Angeles county line and is part of the Greater Los Angeles Area...
. The 2008 purchase agreement allows for the continued operation of this location, and allows Nathan's Famous and Miami Subs to continue selling Kenny Rogers Roasters items in their restaurants. Nathan's continues to serve Kenny Rogers Roasters items in select locations, such as its flagship location on Coney Island
Coney Island
Coney Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York, United States. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill....
, and Miami Subs (since sold off by Nathan's) also has a "Kenny Rogers" section on their menu.
Despite the chain's steep decline in the United States, Kenny Rogers Roasters continues to flourish in Asia, particularly in Malaysia. and the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Some branches in the Philippines also serve Seattle's Best Coffee
Seattle's Best Coffee
Seattle's Best Coffee, a wholly owned subsidiary of Starbucks, is a specialty coffee retailer and wholesaler based in Seattle, Washington.Seattle's Best Coffee has retail stores and grocery sub-stores in 20 states and provinces and the District of Columbia. Sub-stores can also be found within many...
products.