Coon Chicken Inn
| Company type | Restaurant chain |
|---|---|
| Industry | Food service |
| Founded | 1925 |
| Founder | Maxon Lester Graham, Adelaide Burt |
| Defunct | 1957 |
| Headquarters | Salt Lake City , United States |
Area served | United States (Salt Lake City, Seattle, Portland) |
Coon Chicken Inn was a restaurant chain in the United States, established in 1925 by Maxon Lester Graham and Adelaide Burt. It operated three outlets until the late 1950s. The brand utilized a caricature of an African American porter in its logos and marketing materials, representing racial stereotypes that eventually contributed to its shutdown by 1957 as societal attitudes evolved.
The inaugural restaurant debuted in a Salt Lake City suburb, Utah, in 1925. Additional branches were opened in Lake City, Seattle (1929), and Portland, Oregon's Hollywood District (1931). Although a Spokane, Washington location was promoted, it never commenced operations. Both the Seattle and Salt Lake City venues broadened their offerings to include cabaret performances, orchestras, and catering services.
The Portland site ceased operations in 1949 and was succeeded by other dining businesses; the premises now house Clyde's Prime Rib. Similarly, the Seattle branch closed in 1949 and has since been replaced by The Growler Guys. The Salt Lake City establishment continued until 1957 and currently serves as a furniture retail space.
Popular culture
An old promotional poster from Coon Chicken Inn is used as a plot device in the 2001 black comedy film Ghost World.
The chain is portrayed in the 2004 alternate history mockumentary C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America as a leading fast-food brand that outperforms actual competitors such as McDonald's and KFC.