New signage has helped increase carryout sales at Chicken Run on York Road,
A new look for Chicken Run
Facade improvement program helps to boost sales
Chicken Run, the landmark carryout at the corner of York Road and Coldspring Avenue, is experiencing an uptick in business that its manager attributes to new signage and an updated facade.
“I think we’re getting a lot of newer customers that didn’t really know we were a carryout just from the facade,” says Sheila Hagan, the manager.
Chicken Run, which now sports a blue-gray coat of paint, opens at 7 a.m. and does a strong morning business. “Breakfast is the most popular,” Hagan said.
The breakfast menu includes french toast and pancakes, with home fries being a favorite.
According to DoorDash, the most-ordered item on the menu is the home fries platter, which includes a choice of meat (turkey bacon, turkey sausage, beef sausage, bacon, ham), two eggs, home fries or grits, and two pieces of white or wheat toast.
Breakfast items are available all day. Most days Chicken Run closes at 4 p.m.. On Sunday it’s open for breakfast only.
Chicken is a favorite, but the restaurant is also expanding its menu.
True to its name, Chicken Run also sells a lot of fried chicken. Popular combo items include wings, soda and fries. A variety of sauces are available, such as buffalo, ranch, Old Bay and honey garlic.
Another sought after item is lake trout, Hagan says. The menu fish also features catfish and tilapia.
Sides that are available include collard greens, candy jams, potato salad and French fries.
The restaurant does not have its own website, but its food can be ordered through DoorDash, Grubhub and Uber Eats.
New additions to the menu include chitlins and breakfast burritos. “we’re trying to add new stuff just to change it up a little bit,” says Hagan, whose aunt owns the restaurant.
“It’s just a small family business, woman-owned,” she said.
Chicken Run draws most of its customers from the neighborhood, including university students and teachers at Walter P. Carter Elementary/Middle School.
“When the schools are back open, we have a lot of people from the schools that come through,” Hagan says.
She had been managing Chicken Run for the past three years and is optimistic about prospects for the York Road Corridor. “We hope that the improvements will help the community and bring more people to the area.”