You’re driving through Richmond and the surrounding area when you suddenly notice a strange sign, a large circle with a handle, resembling a skillet. Some might mistake it for an old advertisement, but for locals, the symbol is clear: Golden Skillet, the legendary fried chicken chain that was born right here in Richmond.
Today, there are only a few locations left, but it was once a veritable gastronomic empire, boasting more than 200 restaurants in various countries. And if you’re looking for the history of the city through food, Golden Skillet is one of the most delicious clues.
From recipe to empire
The story of Golden Skillet is the story of Clifton William Guthrie, a Richmond native with the mind of a businessman and the heart of a chef. He tried his hand at everything: farming, a silk factory, insurance. But his main passion remained fried chicken.
Guthrie experimented with breaded and oiled chicken, and most importantly, he developed a method: the chicken was cooked under pressure, which reduced cooking time and preserved flavor. The patent for this type of skillet contributed significantly to its success.
The first real test came at the Thalhimers department store restaurant in 1963. The recipe was a sensation there, and a few years later, the franchise began. In 1968, the first restaurant opened in the heart of Richmond.
How Golden Skillet grew
Under the slogan “Tender as Quail, Tasty as Pheasant,” the chain expanded in the US, Canada, and Japan. By the early 1980s, Golden Skillet had more than 200 locations.
For Richmond, it was a symbol of the city. Restaurants on Broad Street and Belt Boulevard attracted crowds. People waited for their chicken at the tables, while salads and puddings were displayed in the window.
It was in Richmond that Golden Skillet became a globally recognized brand.
But, what made Golden Skillet special?
It is essential to list the features that kept people coming back again and again:
- Cooking method: pressure cooking, which reduces cooking time and makes the meat tender.
- Pure peanut oil: a signature flavor that is unmistakable.
- Family atmosphere: the Guthrie family members who worked there could be seen in every dining room.
- Detailed menu: macaroni, potato salad, and puddings alongside the chicken.
- Skillet sign: a unique sign that became part of the city’s landscape.
These elements came together to create a special style that was still felt even decades later.
Part of city memory
Guthrie attracted his children and grandchildren to the business. Some became accountants, others directors, and still others managers.
For the townspeople, Golden Skillet was a part of life. Crowds gathered at the opening of new restaurants, teenagers worked part-time in the kitchen, and families had dinner after church.
Even today, many remember how the chicken was first marinated in salt, then dipped in batter, coated in dry mix, and carefully lowered into the oil, first the thighs, then the legs, breast, and wings.
Decline and what remains
After Guthrie died in 1981, Dairy Queen acquired the company. For them, it was more of a business strategy than a brand development effort. Stores began to close. In 2021, the last corporate restaurant in Portsmouth closed.
Today, only a few locations remain. In Richmond, you can find them on Jahnke Road and Williamsburg Road in Sandstone, as well as nearby in Petersberg.
Locals consider these restaurants to be time capsules: the interior has remained almost unchanged, and the chicken is still the same as it was in the 1960s.
If you’re in Richmond and want to experience a taste of the past, consider visiting one of the remaining historic locations. Here is a list of popular places:
- Jahnke Road: a restaurant that looks like a blast from the past.
- Williamsburg Road (Sandston): one of the most famous, with an iconic sign.
- Washington Street (Petersburg): a place where the original recipes are preserved.
- Broad Street (former location): now closed, but still remembered by many.
- Belt Boulevard (former location): the legendary restaurant where the Guthrie family worked.
Each of these places is steeped in history, and even the closed locations live on in memory.
Legacy and taste
Golden Skillet left behind more than just recipes. It is part of the city’s culture.
Richmond is famous today for its variety of restaurants, but it was Golden Skillet that showed that food can become a brand. For some, it is a business lesson, for others, a family memory, and for others, the taste of childhood.
And although the recipe is still a secret, they say that Sandston still cooks closest to the original.
Golden Skillet is a story about how a passion for food and belief in an idea can change a city. Richmond gave the world a chain that became a symbol of the Southern States.
Today, only a few restaurants remain, but each one upholds the brand and preserves the atmosphere of the past. And if you pass by the skillet sign, don’t drive on. Stop and try it. After all, it’s a piece of Richmond history, fried in peanut oil and served with a side of pudding.