Pollards Chicken Conquest In Hampton Roads

Pollard's Chicken has been a Hampton Roads staple for over 50 years, serving up fried chicken and Southern comfort food. The family-owned business has grown to include several locations in the Hampton Roads area, including stores in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Portsmouth. With a rich history and a loyal customer base, the number of Pollard's Chicken stores in Hampton Roads has fluctuated over the years, but it remains a beloved fixture in the community.

Pollard's Chicken has six restaurants in Hampton Roads

Pollards Chicken is a family-owned business that has been serving Hampton Roads for over 50 years. The first Pollards Chicken was opened in 1967 by Elizabeth "Betty" Pollard and her sons, who chose to go into the food business instead of opening a gas station. The restaurant has become a household name in Hampton Roads, with an estimated 50 million pieces of fried chicken served.

The family-owned business has grown to six award-winning restaurants in the Hampton Roads area, with more to come. The locations include two in Norfolk, two in Virginia Beach, one in Great Bridge, and one in Portsmouth. The restaurants offer quality home-style food at reasonable prices, with a specialty in chicken, including dark meat, white meat, livers, gizzards, tenders, and boneless chicken breasts.

Pollards Chicken has a long history of catering, which started in Elizabeth C. Pollard's kitchen in the 1950s. The catering business has since expanded, serving clients like the Norfolk City Council, which has been buying fried chicken every Tuesday for over 20 years. The largest function catered by Pollards was feeding 5,500 people during the commissioning of the aircraft carrier Eisenhower.

The success of Pollards Chicken can be attributed to its dedication to freshness and offering a wide selection of food items. The restaurant has won several awards, including being voted the "Best of Hampton Roads" Gold Winner for Fried Chicken by The Virginian-Pilot readers for 21 consecutive years and "Best Fried Chicken" by Gracious Living's Taste Test in 2011.

Two stores closed in 2021

In 2021, two Pollard's Chicken stores closed in Hampton Roads, leaving five remaining. The closures were of the Kempsville location in Virginia Beach, as well as the stores at 4806 George Washington Hwy, Portsmouth, and 3545 Buckner Blvd, Virginia Beach. The chain did not go into detail about the closures but did say that the pandemic had been "very challenging" for its restaurants. The company said it was working to relocate employees from the closed locations to the remaining restaurants.

The Pollard's Chicken legacy began in 1967 when Clyde W. Pollard, together with his son and brother, opened "Pollard's Chicken Ranch" in Norfolk, Virginia. The family-owned business has been serving quality home-style food at reasonable prices in Hampton Roads for decades. The chain has offered fried chicken, seafood, barbecue, and Southern-style vegetables.

Pollard's Chicken has been voted the "Best of Hampton Roads" Gold Winner for Fried Chicken for 21 consecutive years by The Virginian-Pilot readers. They have also won Gracious Living's Taste Test as the "Best Fried Chicken" in 2011.

The company has been involved in philanthropy, supporting the American Cancer Society for over 20 years. Their catering service provides a free buffet for cancer survivors attending the "Relay for Life" walks in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Portsmouth.

Locations include Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Portsmouth

Pollard's Chicken has been a Hampton Roads staple since 1967, when the Pollard family first opened their chicken ranch in Norfolk, Virginia. Over the years, the family business has expanded to include nine locations in the Hampton Roads area, including stores in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Portsmouth.

The Pollards menu offers a variety of chicken options, from dark meat to white meat, livers, gizzards, tenders, and boneless chicken breasts. Their signature fried chicken has earned them a loyal following, with many customers citing childhood memories of the brand. In addition to their retail operations, Pollard's also has a successful catering business, serving up their famous fried chicken and Southern comfort food for events, luncheons, and corporate outings.

Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, which led to the closure of two locations in Hampton Roads, the chain continues to thrive with the support of its customers. As of 2021, five locations remain open, with the Pollards family working hard to relocate employees to these remaining restaurants.

With their dedication to quality, freshness, and family values, Pollard's Chicken has become an iconic presence in the Hampton Roads community, and their story continues to evolve as they plan to open more locations in the future. Their success is a testament to the hard work and perseverance of the Pollard family, who have left an indelible mark on the region's culinary landscape.

The first store opened in 1967

The Pollard's Chicken legacy began in February 1967 when Clyde W. Pollard, along with his wife Elizabeth "Betty" Pollard, and son Robert, opened the first "Pollard's Chicken Ranch" in Norfolk, Virginia, on East Little Creek Road. Two years later, they dropped the "Ranch" from their name and continued as Pollard's Chicken. The business has always been family-oriented, with Betty Ann Gravely and her sister Elizabeth owning the business today and overseeing nine locations in Hampton Roads.

The Pollards' journey into the food business began with Betty's catering services in the 1950s, which included cooking for church functions and various catering jobs. This evolved into a full-fledged family business when the first restaurant opened in 1967, with one full-time employee. The Pollards' commitment to serving quality, home-style food at reasonable prices has endured for over 50 years.

The menu features fried chicken, seafood, barbecue, and a selection of Southern-style vegetables. You can get chicken by the piece, as a dinner with sides, or in larger quantities. Their recipes are crafted with generations of tradition, offering crispy fried chicken and homestyle sides like mashed potatoes and collard greens.

The Pollard family's success can be attributed to their dedication to freshness and a wide selection of offerings. They have also gained recognition for their philanthropy, supporting the American Cancer Society for over 20 years and providing free buffets for cancer survivors at "Relay for Life" walks.

Today, the family operates multiple stores in the Hampton Roads area, including locations in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Portsmouth, with plans to expand further.

The family-owned business has been going for over 50 years

The Pollard's Chicken legacy began in February 1967 when Clyde W. Pollard, along with his wife Elizabeth "Betty" Pollard and their son Robert, opened "Pollard's Chicken Ranch" in Norfolk, Virginia. Two years later, they dropped "Ranch" from their name and became Pollard's Chicken. The business has been family-owned and operated since its inception, with Betty Ann Gravely and her sister now at the helm, overseeing nine locations in the Hampton Roads area.

The family's journey into the food business began with Betty's cooking for church functions in the 1950s, which evolved into catering services. The Pollards' commitment to serving quality, home-style food at reasonable prices has endured for over five decades. Their menu features a variety of options, including fried chicken, seafood, barbecue, and Southern-style vegetables.

Pollard's Chicken has become a household name in Hampton Roads, with a strong reputation for their signature fried chicken and Southern comfort food. The business has thrived due to their dedication to freshness and a wide selection of offerings. They have also ventured into catering, providing full-service catering for events, luncheons, BBQs, and corporate outings, among other occasions.

The Pollards' success is evident in their ability to cater to large-scale events, such as feeding 5,500 people during the commissioning of the aircraft carrier Eisenhower. They have also garnered recognition for their philanthropy, supporting the American Cancer Society for over 20 years and providing free buffets for cancer survivors at "Relay for Life" walks.

While the number of stores has varied over the years, with some openings and closures, the Pollards' family-owned business has stood the test of time, becoming a beloved fixture in the Hampton Roads community for generations. Their enduring popularity is a testament to the enduring appeal of their delicious food and the family's dedication to their customers.

Frequently asked questions