This 40-Year-Old Black-Owned Restaurant Received Oprah’s Stamp Of Approval On Multiple Occasions — Today, It Has Expanded To Its 18th Location

A popular chicken spot loved by Oprah Winfrey is spreading its wings.

Ezell’s Famous Chicken, a Seattle, WA-based chain co-founded by Lewis Rudd in 1984 is preparing to bring the business to Kirkland, WA. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Rudd opened the restaurant with his sister, Faye Rudd, and a high school friend Ezell Stephens, according to Oregon Live.

Then in 1989, it scored two visits from Oprah Winfrey. The media mogul was impressed with the menu, featuring Louisiana-style fried chicken made fresh daily in pure vegetable oil, baked rolls, barbecue beans, and mac and cheese. She even hired Ezell’s Famous Chicken to cater her 36th birthday celebration in Chicago, IL.

The exposure from Winfrey led to an increase in customers for Ezell’s Famous Chicken.

“We had people literally driving from Longview, Washington, to get chicken,” Rudd said, according to Oregon Live. “We couldn’t keep up with the demand.”

Over the years, other notable names have stopped by to support the business, including Danny Glover, Quincy Jones, Rev. Jesse Jackson, George Wendt, and George Foreman, according to The Business Journal.

Evidently business has been booming ever since, with a presence scaling from the Seattle area to Spokane, WA, and parts of Oregon, the outlet mentions. What’s more, the family-owned business is opening a 2,500-square-foot location at 12559 116th Ave. NE, which will be the 18th Ezell’s Famous Chicken. A grand opening is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, the company shared via Instagram. “Attention Ezell’s fans, far and wide,” the company said on Instagram. “Our brand new Ezell’s Famous Chicken in Kirkland will officially open its doors this Tuesday, August 6th at 10:30am! Grab your squad, bring your appetite, and get ready to celebrate with us.”

While Ezell’s Famous Chicken continues to build on its success, it is also actively working on doing the same for other Black-owned businesses. According to Eater Seattle, the company launched the Raising Up Black Businesses (R.U.B.B.) Initiative, which provides financial management guidance and coaching as well as grant funding to entrepreneur’s across Seattle and Portland. Already over $75,000 in grants has been dispersed since 2021.