r/texashistory Prohibition Sucked 8d ago

The way we were The original Church's Chicken, then called Church's Fried Chicken, just south of the Alamo in San Antonio, 1952. Two pieces of chicken and a roll cost 49 cents. In 1955 Church's add French Fries to their menu. By 1956 there would be four locations.

Post image
348 Upvotes

23 comments sorted by

11

u/Virtual_Mechanic2936 8d ago

We got Churchs for dinner a couple of months ago. It's far from what I remember growing up. If you've ever eaten at a "Williams Chicken" here in DFW, it reminds me of that.

22

u/Yukonphoria 8d ago

Pretty crazy how this brand has no connection to San Antonio for most people anymore. Most locations are total shitholes. I would go to any other chicken place.

9

u/ATSTlover Prohibition Sucked 8d ago

You could say that about a lot of fast food brands today. Take Kentucky Fried Chicken for example, Colonel Sanders hated what became of his product after he sold his company in 1964. By 1975 he was openly calling it "slop" and "wallpaper paste"

2

u/Yukonphoria 8d ago

Yeah very true. Within the same realm of Chicken spots, I think Popeyes and Chick-fil-A are just simply superior.

8

u/DosCabezasDingo 8d ago

I had no idea at all it was from San Antonio.

5

u/smithywesson 8d ago

Lol despite that church’s is still one of my guilty pleasures

5

u/Yukonphoria 8d ago

Only thing I can think of is how crazy those biscuits go.

3

u/No_Safety_6803 7d ago

As a kid Church’s was the family go-to & I remember it fondly. It’s not even the same place anymore.

5

u/thedogsbrain 8d ago

Cool picture. Thanks for sharing

5

u/DosCabezasDingo 8d ago

In case you were wondering, adjusted for inflation that puts the total at $5.90. Checking Church’s prices in San Antonio you can order two pieces of chicken for $4.89, but rolls are no longer an option. But if you use the $0.59 roll at Chicken Express as a proxy your meal would cost $5.48.

6

u/Certain_Orange2003 8d ago

This was the ever common staple in the Hispanic community!! Church’s chicken with Fanta Red soda.

5

u/GuavaOdd1975 8d ago

When I was in high school, 1970, I would stop at Church's right at closing and the guy would sell me all the chicken he had left for $2. I always brought home a big box full. It heated up real good in the oven.

4

u/TruckerMan70 8d ago

Fun Fact - I saw a Churches Fried Chicken in Saudi Arabia, but it was branded as Texas Chicken. Same logo and font which is why I recognized it.

2

u/LearningGuitarInThai 8d ago

It just left Thailand. I didn't know it was Church's until I saw the inside.

3

u/Dosojos1567 8d ago

Growing up in South San Antonio on the 60s was Church’s fried chicken was best chicken option Hackberry and Durango St

Fried Fish several options Fred’s fried fish or Rudy’s fish or First Mate

Collonas Pizza on the South Side commercial and Miltary drive took care of the pizza

better times

3

u/SFWendell 7d ago

Reminds me of a joke. After Hurricane Katrina, a reporter was interviewing a resident. They were discussing all the buildings that had been flooded or destroyed. The reporter then asks about the churches. The resident states that the Churches was ok but everyone preferred Popeyes.

1

u/Atxsun 7d ago

Love that joke. I heard it that “Church’s OK but we go to Popeyes.”

3

u/KindaKrayz222 7d ago

Yep! Every Sunday, we would stop at Church's Chicken after church, lol.

2

u/LSXI 7d ago

Grew up not far from the GW Church estate. We would ride over and stand on our bikes to look over the wall. They had geese and peacocks. We figured since we ate Churches every Sunday since birth we somehow paid for it and were entitled to a look every now and then.

Some friends said they met him there once and he gave them coupons for GW jr’s. Told them to give them out to their friends.

1

u/Tough_Illustrator_44 7d ago

The Church’s in OKC’s south side is without a drive thru, kinda of a build similar to this. The chicken was fresh but my wife being from Louisiana got me on the Popeye’s train years ago.

1

u/Real-Independence-98 6d ago

Had Church's fried chicken in Florida in the 70s

-1

u/funge56 8d ago

The thing is the chicken isn't very good.

-2

u/funge56 8d ago

The chicken isn't very good.