KFC. When you hear that, what do you think of? Probably, you think of Kentucky, Colonel Sanders, Fried Chicken, Rotating bucket, right?
Nice, beautiful, old KFC isn't it? I love KFC, their original recipe chicken breasts make me have to eat two pieces. And their popcorn chicken and boneless honey bbq wings, dee-lish! Its no wonder Hampton Roads has so many locations.
So, the first time I saw Grafton's new signs (June 2008), I thought it was odd to not have any rennovations (like the old Newport News store above).
So, Grafton, had one of these decades ago. I don't think my parents ever ate there, which is now a cleaners and tux rental, they had to be gone by the early 80s (my dad said he rented a tuxedo here back then).
Very cool, old black and white building. I don't know if it was a re-location, thats my theory, but Heritage Square was built in the 70s, one of the first in Grafton. So, KFC decided to open a store there.
That picture was taken in December 2007, when the store still had the 1991 logo (and they had the 80s logo before, note the "Kentucky Fried Chicken" sign. So along with Pizza Hut, First Virginia Bank, McDonald's, Revco pharmacy, and Giant Open Air supermarket, KFC was a main tenant. However, like most KFCs today, they didn't have a buffet, but I liked their old school atmosphere.
The food was okay here, the buffets are better most of the time. The place wasn't reall
y busy most times I went in. In June 08 I was sure they were going to get renovated. All they did was put up the current logo on the sign and biscuit box, and take down the window decals of the Colonel's face. I wasn't expecting them to close.
On the night of May 16, 2009, I was staying with my dad in Yorktown, and we were in Kiln Creek that night. We drove by the KFC on the way home, and I noticed the absence of the signs. I thought it was just changing the lights or getting them cleaned. I was wrong. We drove to the McDonald's in Tabb in front of the Wal-Mart, and I noticed the signs were still gone, al
l the ads in the window were gone, and there were no cars in the parking lot, only a big dumpster. It was obvious: the old KFC closed. Permedantly.
After we ate I told him to drive there to let me take pictures. Inside the lights were on, and a sign was outside of the door.
The J Clyde Morris location is about 10 minutes up the road in Newport News. It is actually a conjoined restaurant with a Taco Bell, so that means no buffet. I don't like the food at the conjoined ones, its terrible, at least at Poquoson (KenTacoHut).
Back on subject, I called my mom and told her that we would have to start getting KFC from Riverdale (in Hampton on Mercury, not a buffet, but their food is good). A week later, we were in Hampton, and the KFC received a fresh coat of paint:
Inside, the lights were off, and the chairs were on top of the tables. All the faded old KFC art, except for the one of the Colonel (which was a photograph) was still on the walls, along with the classic tan wallpaper and wooden structures. The Pepsi machine was still on the counter, along with the black menu boards that once had pictures of chicken. The kitchen was pretty empty though.
Sad to see this one flip so soon. I don't know what will become of this, maybe another restaurant might move in since the furniture is still intact (maybe a Popeye's or Bojangles). IDK, but I'll stay updated.
RIP KFC fried chicken, 350 George Washington Mem Hwy, Grafton, VA.
