Remembering Jackson’s ‘Chicken Inn’ – Where Did the Giant Fiberglass Chicken End Up?

Another staple – another icon – another favorite place of Jacksonians was the infamous Chicken Inn, once located at 3133 East Michigan Avenue.

Even if you couldn’t read English, you couldn’t miss it, thanks to the giant fiberglass chicken that sat outside.....or if you drove by with your windows open, you couldn’t help but catch a whiff of broasted chicken. Broasting combines deep frying with pressure cooking, a practice that was also adopted by the old Quality Inn just off I-94, who began featuring broasted chicken dinners every Sunday.

The Chicken Inn – which began life as a fruit stand during the 1950s - was located right next to The Dome, which was Jackson’s equivalent to “Arnold’s” on the Happy Days TV program. When the Regent Cafe closed in 1966, the Chicken Inn’s popularity soared (as did the popularity of the Viking Steak House).

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The Chicken Inn was not a one-trick pony...they also served up meatloaf, pork chops, ribs, roast beef, sandwiches, seafood, steaks, and veal. A setback happened in October 1967 when a fire broke out causing extensive damage. It re-opened a month later.

The Chicken Inn has been gone since 1991, when it was turned over to new owners and transformed into Long’s Family Restaurant. It changed hands again in 1994 and became known as the Carriage Inn. The structure finally – and sadly – closed for good in 1998 and it was torn down, making way for Advance Auto Parts.

Now, where the heck is that old giant fiberglass chicken?

To avoid being stolen every Halloween, the chicken keeps getting moved from place to place. This has been going on for quite a few years now. I wonder where it ended up THIS year?