Sophie Bennett
Harold's Chicken, a fried chicken chain from Chicago, has had a tumultuous relationship with Cedar Rapids. The restaurant has left and returned to the city multiple times, with its last stint ending in 2017 when it was kicked out of the Roosevelt building, along with another restaurant, Jerseys, due to alleged rent payment issues. However, in 2024, Harold's Chicken announced its return to Cedar Rapids, with plans to reopen in January 2025. This new opening, led by co-owners O'Meara and Tierra Long, marks the franchise's third attempt to establish itself in the city.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for Harold's Chicken's absence in Cedar Rapids | The owner of the Roosevelt building claimed that Jerseys stopped paying rent, and both Jerseys and Harold's Chicken were kicked out. |
| Previous locations of Harold's Chicken in Cedar Rapids | Roosevelt building, Downtown Cedar Rapids, 4330 16th Ave. SW |
| Previous locations of Jersey's in Cedar Rapids | Roosevelt building, Downtown Cedar Rapids |
| New location of Harold's Chicken | 4330 16th Ave. SW, previously home to Highway 30 Diner |
| Date of reopening | February 2025 |
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What You'll Learn
Harold's Chicken's return to Cedar Rapids
Harold's Chicken is making a return to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for the third time. The Chicago-based fried chicken chain first opened a pop-up restaurant in Cedar Rapids in 2016, followed by a permanent location in the Roosevelt building in downtown Cedar Rapids in 2017. However, both Harold's Chicken and another restaurant, Jerseys, were kicked out of the building after the owner claimed that Jerseys had stopped paying rent. Despite this setback, Harold's Chicken reopened in downtown Cedar Rapids in July 2017, moving into a space near Uptown Live on First Avenue.
Now, after an eight-year absence, Harold's Chicken is returning to Cedar Rapids. The new location at 4330 16th Ave SW, the former home of Hwy 30 Diner, marks the franchise's third attempt in the city. The new opening is led by co-owners O'Meara, 38, and Tierra Long, 34, who aim to give Harold's Chicken a successful comeback in Iowa. The restaurant officially opened in February 2025, with a grand opening ceremony taking place on February 11th.
The return of Harold's Chicken has been highly anticipated by the community, with many looking forward to the chain's famous fried chicken and side dishes, such as fried green tomatoes. The new location hopes to attract a steady flow of customers and compete with other established Harold's Chicken locations in nearby Iowa City and Waterloo. The franchise owner has also utilized social media to generate buzz, creating a Facebook page specifically for the Cedar Rapids location to keep followers updated on the latest developments and opening dates.
The new Harold's Chicken in Cedar Rapids faces the challenge of establishing itself in a competitive market. With a history of closures and relocations, the franchise will need to build a strong customer base and effectively manage its operations to ensure its longevity in the city. The owners have expressed their commitment to making this venture a success, and the community's enthusiasm indicates a promising start for the beloved fried chicken chain's return.
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Previous stints in Cedar Rapids
Harold's Chicken has had a previous presence in Cedar Rapids, with two stints in the city in the last decade. The first was a pop-up restaurant that opened in 2016, followed by a permanent location in the Roosevelt building in downtown Cedar Rapids. The last franchise left Cedar Rapids in 2017, and the new opening in 2025 marks the chain's third stint in the city.
The original Harold's Chicken was started by Harold Pierce back in 1950, and it quickly became a staple in the Chicago area. Over 70 years later, the chain has expanded across Illinois and to several other states, including California, Arizona, Nevada, Indiana, Georgia, Missouri, Minnesota, Texas, and North Carolina.
The menu at Harold's Chicken features the chain's signature fried chicken, along with wings, tenders, catfish, shrimp, perch, liver, and gizzards. The Cedar Rapids location will also offer sides like okra, macaroni and cheese, hot peppers, mushrooms, fries, and pizza puffs. Each combo meal will come with fries, coleslaw, and a piece of bread to soak up the seasoning and sauce.
The new franchise owners, O'Meara and Tierra Long, aim to add to the diversity of Cedar Rapids' food scene and bring the Chicago favorite back to Iowa. They plan to start with a soft opening before the official grand opening, and they hope that diners will give this beloved fried chicken chain a warm welcome back to the community.
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Issues with the Roosevelt building owner
The issues between the Roosevelt building owner and Jersey's and Harold's Chicken in Cedar Rapids stem from allegations of unpaid rent. The owner of the Roosevelt building claimed that Jersey's had stopped paying rent, leading to both Jersey's and Harold's Chicken being evicted from the premises. Harold's Chicken had two stints in Cedar Rapids, with the last one ending in 2017 when it was located in the Roosevelt building in downtown Cedar Rapids. Initially starting as a pop-up store in 2016, it moved into a first-floor restaurant space in the Roosevelt building. However, in 2018, Harold's Chicken moved out of the Roosevelt building and merged with Uptown Live on First Avenue.
The specific details of the rent dispute between the Roosevelt building owner and Jersey's are not publicly known. Still, it resulted in the eviction of both Jersey's and Harold's Chicken from the premises. It is important to note that the claims against Harold's Chicken were dismissed, indicating that they were not at fault in this particular matter.
The Roosevelt building in downtown Cedar Rapids is a notable location for restaurants and businesses. The building has housed several establishments over the years, including Jersey's and Harold's Chicken. The eviction of these businesses due to alleged unpaid rent highlights the challenges that tenants may face in maintaining their leases and the actions that landlords may take in response to perceived breaches of contract.
The impact of the eviction on Jersey's and Harold's Chicken is unclear. Still, it is likely that they had to incur additional costs and disruptions to their operations to find new locations. For Harold's Chicken, the Roosevelt building was a permanent location after initially starting as a pop-up restaurant. The eviction and subsequent move may have impacted their customer base and revenue streams, especially if they had established a loyal following in the downtown area.
The Roosevelt building owner's actions in evicting Jersey's and Harold's Chicken raise questions about the rights and responsibilities of commercial landlords and tenants. While landlords have the legal right to evict tenants who breach their lease agreements, the process and consequences can be complex and disruptive for all involved parties. It is essential for commercial tenants to understand their rights and obligations regarding rent payment and other lease terms to avoid potential disputes and negative outcomes.
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New location and co-owners
After being absent from Cedar Rapids for eight years, Harold's Chicken has found a new home at 4330 16th Ave SW, previously occupied by the Highway 30 Diner. The new location is on the southwest side, near Wawa Caribbean. The co-owners of this new franchise are O'Meara and Tierra Long, who are both 38 and 34 years old, respectively. This is their first venture into restaurant ownership. O'Meara, originally from Australia, moved to Cedar Rapids at 15 and has a business management background. Long, on the other hand, used to work as a nurse.
The new owners plan to retain the same menu that has made Harold's Chicken a Chicago staple for over 70 years. The menu features the chain's signature fried chicken, wings, tenders, catfish, shrimp, perch, liver, and gizzards. Sides include fried green tomatoes, fries, coleslaw, macaroni and cheese, and fried okra. They also intend to add more tables for dine-in, a drive-thru for advance orders, and a delivery service as they grow.
The grand opening of the new location was held on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, with a soft opening on February 6. The new owners emphasised that their establishment has no connection to the previous owner of Harold's Chicken in Cedar Rapids. This reopening marks the third time Harold's Chicken has had a presence in Cedar Rapids, with the last franchise leaving in 2017.
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Harold's Chicken's popularity
Harold's Chicken, a fried chicken restaurant chain from Chicago, has had a tumultuous presence in Cedar Rapids, with multiple openings and closures over the years. Despite this, the restaurant has developed a strong following and remains popular among locals.
The first Harold's Chicken in Cedar Rapids was a pop-up store that opened in 2016, followed by a permanent location in the Roosevelt building in downtown Cedar Rapids. However, Harold's Chicken and another restaurant, Jerseys, were evicted from the building due to alleged rent issues with the owner.
Undeterred, Harold's Chicken reopened in downtown Cedar Rapids in July 2017, this time in a first-floor restaurant space. The relocation was intended to merge the downtown location with Uptown Live on First Avenue, where Harold's Chicken was already being served alongside jazz, blues, and comedy shows.
In February 2025, Harold's Chicken returned to Cedar Rapids once more, this time under new management. Co-owners O'Meara and Tierra Long aimed to give the franchise a second chance in the city. The new location on the southwest side, near Wawa Caribbean, was strategically chosen to attract customers and build on the popularity of existing locations in Iowa City and Waterloo.
The popularity of Harold's Chicken in Cedar Rapids can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the restaurant offers a unique dining experience, specialising in fried chicken and signature side dishes like fried green tomatoes. Secondly, the multiple relocations and temporary closures may have created a sense of exclusivity and intrigue, driving customers to seek out the restaurant. Additionally, Harold's Chicken has effectively utilised social media and traditional media outlets like The Gazette to spread awareness of their openings, closings, and new locations.
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