Uncle Remus Saucy Fried Chicken

Uncle Remus Saucy Fried Chicken is a West Side original. Gus and Mary Rickette, who came to Chicago from Leland, Mississippi, opened G & G Chicken Shack in 1963 and put the Uncle Remus name on a Cicero Avenue shop in February 1969; the Madison Street restaurant at Central Avenue followed that August and is the oldest one still open. The chicken is fried and then coated in the house sauce, sold by the piece and in family meal deals. Charmaine Rickette Alfred, the founders’ daughter, has run the company since 1991, and the Madison Street location was renovated and reopened in April 2022.

What to know

• The Rickette family’s chicken business dates to G & G Chicken Shack in 1963; the Uncle Remus brand started in 1969.
• The Madison Street location opened in August 1969 and is the oldest Uncle Remus still operating.
• Fried chicken is tossed in the house sauce and sold by the piece and in family meal deals.
• Charmaine Rickette Alfred, the founders’ daughter, has run the company since 1991.
• The Central and Madison restaurant was renovated and reopened in April 2022.