Church’s Texas Chicken plans to fill the former KFC on West Lane Road in Machesney Park, village officials announced on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. (Photo provided by Church’s Texas Chicken)By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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MACHESNEY PARK — A KFC that abruptly closed in August will be filled with a new fried chicken chain.
Church’s Texas Chicken is preparing to open its first Machesney Park location and only restaurant in the Rockford area, village officials announced on Friday.
The national chain will open at 1586 West Lane Road. It’s expected to open in spring, the village said in a news release.
“This is the first Church’s Texas Chicken location in the Rockford area,” Mayor Steve Johnson said in a news release. “We’re happy to see new restaurants choose Machesney Park for their location, especially along 173. It gives residents and visitors exciting options.”
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The KFC in Machesney Park closed in August along with three others in the Rockford region tied to the franchise owner. Several others closed the same day across the state.
The restaurant chain was founded as Church’s Chicken in 1952 by George W. Church Sr. in San Antonio, Texas. It’s officially rebranded as Church’s Texas Chicken in 2019, and the company is now headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
It specializes in original and spicy chicken prepared fresh throughout the day in small batches. Its chicken is hand-battered and doubled-breaded, the company said. It also offers tenders, sandwiches, freshly baked butter biscuits and homestyle sides such as corn on the cob, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese and fried okra.
There are roughly 770 Church’s locations across the country, according to the company’s website.
Church’s Texas Chicken is moving into a former KFC on West Lane Road in Machesney Park. It’s expected to open by spring. (Photo provided by Church’s Texas Chicken)This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas