Some of our viewers are wondering what is up with the closing of the Kentucky Fried Chicken at the corner of Elmwood and Bryant. I drove by the other day and saw the KFC crew cleaning up what looked to be chicken parts and sewage that had spewed out into the street. Word has it that a backed up sewer was responsible for the mess, which would ultimately be the responsibility of the restaurant. The sign on the window states that the restaurant is closed for repairs. I called Dan Leonard from the Elmwood Village Association who was apparently disgusted and fed up with the business. “This incidence is just another example of the consistent community health and sanitation issues that have plagued this property for the past several years," he told me. "The Yellow District of the Elmwood Village prides itself with some of the city’s finest restaurants, upscale retail, beautiful housing and quality urban infrastructure. It is very upsetting to have just a couple of properties deteriorate the entire image, health and safety of a very successful neighborhood.”
Dan was also 'kind' enough to forward me documentation of the chicken remains... uh... thanks Dan. I asked him if the location would re-open and he wasn't sure at this point in time. "We need to work together as a community to find the best solutions for properties like this," Dan said. You would think that a restaurant like KFC that continues to have problems would face great scrutiny from The City. But in the end it continues to re-open, then close, then re-open… How does a restaurant get away with this especially since there are so many documented reports of problems? Will the neighborhood continue to suffer at the hands of an irresponsible food chain?
The KFC property is currently for sale for $425,000. Word is that KFC has two years left in its lease. Then it supposedly has an option for five more. If this operation were not allowed to reopen due to ongoing 'problems', then the property would become much more desirable for an investor. Let's look at this as an opportunity for the street... cross your fingers.