IN THE MIDST OF PANDEMIC, FAMILY BUSINESS FLOURISHES

Uncle Remus Saucy Fried Chicken has opened its fourth location in Bolingbrook. In the midst of the pandemic, the restaurant is also hiring staff. Photo courtesy of Uncle Remus
Uncle Remus Saucy Fried Chicken has opened its fourth location in Bolingbrook. In the midst of the pandemic, the restaurant is also hiring staff. Photo courtesy of Uncle Remus

 In the midst of pandemic, family business flourishes

BY TIA CAROL JONES
     Note: The food industry is just one of many industries which have been affected by the pandemic where in some cases, establishments have been forced to close their doors permanently. During uncertain times, the Citizen Newspaper Group Inc. hopes to help individual establishments in the food industry retain and gain their customer base by helping businesses to share their stories- both in our print publications and on our podcast which is also broadcast live on Facebook. The Citizen continues to accept in-person podcast guests, where we interview individuals, community leaders and others. During in-person interviews, the Citizen follows strict CDC Guidelines which includes social distancing (as much as possible), providing temperature checks and continuously using hand sanitizer and masks. If you are a startup business, community leader or just an individual who wants to share your story with our readers in print or on our podcast, drop us a email at Citizenpodcast@yahoo.com.
    Uncle Remus Saucy Fried Chicken has been in Chicago for more than 50 years. It all started with the location at Central Avenue and Madison Street on the city’s West side by Charmaine Ricketts’ parents.
      Now, the local, Black-owned, woman-owned food business has opened its fourth location in Bolingbrook and is hiring staff.
Ricketts, CEO of Uncle Remus Saucy Fried Chicken, said she started the process of opening the Bolingbrook location before the pandemic hit and had to push back the opening.
     She added when the pandemic first hit, her restaurants saw a 60-70 percent drop in business. She said from that point on, everything she did, was done in order to sustain the business she had.
     “Having the online presence, to [do] online ordering, having the app to download, having third party delivery, is truly what sustained me during this time,” she said. “And, I do have two restaurants that have seats, so we just took the seats out and kept going.”
As part of sustaining her business, Ricketts said she didn’t take a salary for four to six weeks. She said she did it so her staff could still work. She said it has been a great sacrifice to keep the locations going.
      Ricketts said the restaurant is looking to hire at least 20 people in the Bolingbrook area. She said the people should like the food industry and because there are leadership positions available - applicants should have aspirations of moving up in the company.
Ricketts said what makes Uncle Remus chicken so good is not only the sauce, but the fact that the product is fresh and never frozen. She said it is a cook to order process. Her breading, recipe and sauce are proprietary, she added.
     Ricketts said the longevity of the business is due to giving back to the community. “I think we’ve become consistent and people come for consistency. We just have good food,” she said. Ricketts said while we’re in a season where some people are not working, there are still people who are working and who are able to support small businesses and restaurants. And, it is important for people to support those businesses, she said.
     Uncle Remus has its own mobile app, Uncle Remus, as well as a rewards program.
     “I’m just trying to grow and evolve and be a brand-focused business and grow into a brand where people don’t really consider me just, ‘Uncle Remus in the hood.’ I’m doing things other big brands do,” she said.

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