THE EZELL'S STORY

Ezell's Famous Chicken was started over 20 years ago, and is a family-owned and operated business.

The story began when Ezell got out of the Coast Guard in 1978, having come to Seattle from Texas. Shortly thereafter, he called his boyhood friend Lewis, while Lewis was still in the Army. Together they decided that, after Lewis left the service, they'd start a business making chicken like they used to back home in Texas!

Ezell and Lewis saw their mission as simple:
Provide FRESH high-quality chicken and GOOD homemade side dishes, served with FAST courteous service. In short, Ezell's had to be Fresh, Good and Fast!

It took Ezell six years of night school and waiting for funding, but finally on February 3, 1984, Ezell and his wife Faye, along with Faye’s brothers, Lewis and Darnell Rudd, and Ezell’s brother, Sam Stephens, opened the first store in Seattle’s Central District at 501-23rd Avenue, across from Garfield High School. Since then they've been living their dream of owning and operating a successful chain of fried chicken restaurants.

Ezell knew he had a product that the public would love. His recipes called for using high quality ingredients and preparing everything fresh daily. All he had to do was get them to "just try it once," and they would return for more.

Ezell's has since become a household name in Seattle with many loyal customers. It currently operates at locations throughout the Seattle area, and the company is actively expanding to bring a location near you!


HISTORY IN PICTURES