Iconic fried chicken fast food chain opens latest location, eyeing comeback

Roy Rogers Restaurants is reviving its marque connected nan East Coast. 

The institution – named aft nan legendary actor, vocalist and “King of nan Cowboys” – opened a location successful Cherry Hill, New Jersey, past week, marking nan chain’s return to nan confederate New Jersey and Philadelphia markets since nan 1990s. 

“We are excited to make this long-anticipated return, and Cherry Hill allows america to service a growing, divers organization and present a caller procreation to nan value and assortment that makes Roy Rogers a trim above,” Roy Rogers Restaurants co-President Jim Plamondon said successful a statement. 

The institution thanked Cherry Hill “for nan champion invited to nan community” connected Instagram pursuing its opening and hinted that location is “more to come.” 

The Maryland-based concatenation was founded successful 1968. In 1990, Marriott sold nan Roy Rogers chain, which had astir 650 locations, to Hardee’s for $365 million.

After nan sale, Hardee’s converted a important number of nan locations to Hardee’s restaurants, and past sold much than 350 restaurants respective years later to Boston Chicken, Wendy’s and McDonald’s, according to its website. 

Peter Plamondon Sr., a erstwhile Marriott executive who became a franchisee of Roy Rogers Restaurants, sold his franchise to his sons, Pete Jr. and Jim, successful nan precocious 1990s. 

By 2002, nan brothers purchased nan Roy Rogers marque from Hardee’s genitor institution CKE Restaurants. The duo person been credited pinch helping unfastened and operate aggregate Roy Rogers restaurants. 

In nan early 2000s, nan edifice conception was “rebooted” arsenic it began its description . 

To date, location are 24 company-owned restaurants and 16 franchise restaurants successful 7 states.