CALL ME A HATER: I’M NOT WAITING IN A LONG LINE FOR UKROP’S FRIED CHICKEN

I grew up in the west end of Henrico County (Broad Meadows). But unlike many of my friends, I can’t claim that I “grew up” on Ukrop’s Fried Chicken.

I can’t even claim that I grew up going to Ukrop’s grocery stores. There was a Food Lion on Broad Street, right by Tucker High School (now an Asian grocery), that was the grocery store of my youth. Before that, there was a Safeway in the same area (now 2nd & Charles). There was a The Grocery Story (and a few other grocery stores, now over by the Sam Ash). Of course, we had Price Club (I still call Costco Price Club, which prompts a laugh from my wife and confusion from my son). My point is we had a lot of options and, according to Mama Cheatham, Ukrop’s was expensive. In my house, Ukrop’s was more known as a solid place to apply for your first job (that and West Tower Cinema (RIP).

That’s not to say that I haven’t had more than my fair share of Ukrop’s chicken tender and potato wedges (and pizza and dessert). I became a Ukrop’s food regular in high school and, in many ways, have never stopped visiting. I hit Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods at Libbie Market often. I enjoy a lot of Ukrop’s food, but this notion that Ukrop’s Fried Chicken is something that people should be waiting in line for, and wait in line for around an hour is where I draw the line. That is absolutely absurd.

I have blessed beyond belief to have an amazing grandmother. She’s 90-years-young and still lives on the Northside of Richmond. To this day, I remember my grandmother as the best creator of fried chicken I’ve ever met. I’d wait in line for my grandmother’s fried chicken. Hell, I’ve waited in line for the Popeye’s Chicken sandwich. I’m not saying I’d do it again, but I did do it. It’s a pretty good sandwich.

Call me a hater but there is nothing uniquely special about Ukrop’s Fried Chicken. Y’all need to tell me what I’m missing.

I understand that store-bought fried chicken can be an adventure. Sometimes you strike out at the aforementioned Popeye’s, Bojangles, KFC, Golden Skillet, Hardees, Church’s Chicken, Lee’s Chicken, even getting fried chicken at Kroger or Walmart, timing is everything. But the idea that Ukrop’s presents a fried chicken that is on the level of a Saison has me trippin.

Now, as I’m writing this post my wife has already planned her first trip to the Ukrop’s Food Hall (at the corner of Horsepen and Patterson) for sometime later this month. I’m sure she will get fried chicken, and I hope some of those classic potato wedges (the wedges are really the gem here). I understand the food hall is something to see. It serves as a trip down memory lane for nostalgic Richmonders, a rite of passage if you will. I get it, but I’m not waiting in a long line for Ukrop’s fried chicken. That’s just ridiculous. #WESEEIT