Iconic Chicago-based restaurant Harold’s Chicken hosted its grand opening of a new franchise location in Cedar Hill this week.
Harold’s Chicken has been in business since 1950 and is located primarily in Chicago, Illinois, with 40 locations across the city. The company has franchise locations across the country, from Los Angeles to Houston, and now in Dallas.
“I’m always excited when we expand,” corporate owner Kristen Pierce-Sherrod told WFAA.
Pierce-Sherrod’s father, Harold Pierce, began Harold’s Chicken 73 years ago as a late-night dining location.
The brand’s flavorful made-to-order chicken, seafood, and signature sauce, as well as its casual dining experience, have generated devoted fans across the country. North Texas area fans have eagerly anticipated the incoming franchise.
“When the sign actually posted Harold’s is coming … Oh, my God,” said Cedar Hill resident Rosie Moore.
Moore, a Chicago native who grew up on Harold’s Chicken, is thrilled that the location opened so close to where she currently resides.
“We have a lot of natives from Chicago that’s in this area. We just saw the need for it and decided to come here,” said Pierce-Sherrod.
The new franchise location in Cedar Hill is owned by a young husband and wife team who moved from Chicago to open the Cedar Hill restaurant.
When asked about her go-to menu item, Moore cited the main attraction.
“The six-piece! The six wings with the extra mild sauce!” she said.
Cedar Hill city leaders have reported Harold’s Chicken is among 67 businesses that were issued a new Certificate of Occupancy over the past year. This has helped the community maintain its status as a regional hub for restaurants and shopping.
“Believe me, I know there’s going to be opportunities for more young people to let them know, ‘hey, we can do this too,’” said Moore.
The owners of Harold’s Chicken said they have big plans in the works after the restaurant’s introduction to North Texas. There is already discussion of expanding across Dallas-Fort Worth.
“We’ve got five more locations coming,” said Vincent Sherrod.
As in other neighboring cities, real estate development in Cedar Hill is on the rise. Meanwhile, Dallas’ permit backlog and staff shortages have impacted developers’ efforts to build and grow in Dallas.
Development Services made improvements in 2022, however, and the Department’s director, Andrew Espinoza, has said he expects much more progress in the processing system in 2023.