First KFC takeout restaurant was in Jacksonville?

[Bativac]

Not sure if this belongs here or in Dining. I'm thinking here, because it's sort of a historical question.

I was reading about KFC this morning (don't ask why, because I have no idea) and learned that the very first KFC "take out" restaurant was opened in Jacksonville, Florida (per the Corbin, Kentucky website). Does anybody know where this was located, or if it's still there?

Not that I'm expecting some kind of monument. I just thought it was an odd little piece of trivia and wondered if any of the experts here knew anything else about it.

[duvaldude08]

I just read that also. That is very interesting. I am also wondering where that was located.

[Joe]

Well, the first KFC was obviously in Corbin. Apparently the first KFC franchise was in Salt Lake City. I'm not sure what a KFC "takeout" is (one with a drive-thru?), but to be perfectly honest, it doesn't sound that significant.

Sort of like how Burger King was "founded" in Jacksonville, but not really.

[duvaldude08]

Well if you gone on the website, It's states his daugther convinced him to start a KFC take out resturant, and the first one was here. That is on the Corbin-Kentucky website. Im thinking that when it first started that it may have been a "Eat-in" resturant, and they then involve to a take out/drive thru resturant.

And speaking of burger king, I never knew that it was a resturant started here, then was bought by some franchise owners in Miami, and renamed burger king. That interesting to know.

[ProjectMaximus]

Well, the first KFC was obviously in Corbin. Apparently the first KFC franchise was in Salt Lake City. I'm not sure what a KFC "takeout" is (one with a drive-thru?), but to be perfectly honest, it doesn't sound that significant.

Sort of like how Burger King was "founded" in Jacksonville, but not really.

I agree on this interpretation and the likelihood of insignificance. But I kinda think the BK history in Jax is cool.

[Joe]

You know, I guess I just assumed that everyone knew about Burger King's history in the area (mostly because it always annoyed me when people claimed BK as Jacksonville's own, when it's obviously a Miami franchise).

As far as I know, the only somewhat national chain based in Jax is Firehouse Subs

Other Jax based chains with regional footprints include:
Bono's - (Florida and Colorado)
Woody's - (Florida and scattered locations)
Larry's Giant Subs - (Florida, Georgia, and scattered locations)
The Loop - (Jax, Georgia, and North Carolina

[Bativac]

Stephen beat me to it. Since the KFC thing didn't merit much attention, I did a little reading on Insta-Burger King and found this:

"In 1952, Matthew Burns of Long Beach, California, invited his stepson, Keith G. Cramer, who owned a carhop restaurant in Daytona Beach, Florida, to fly out to California and visit McDonald's, the new fast food operation in San Bernardino, California. Burns and Cramer acquired the rights to George Read's Miracle Insta-Machines, one of which made multiple milk shakes; the other was the Insta-Broiler, which cooked twelve burgers simultaneously in wire baskets so that the patties could be cooked on both sides simultaneously. Four hundred burgers could be turned out in an hour with one machine. The cooked patties slid into a container filled with sauce, and then they were ready to be placed on toasted buns. In 1953, Cramer opened the Insta-Burger King in Jacksonville, Florida. His burgers sold for 18 cents apiece and they were a great success. Two franchisers, James McLamore and David R. Edgerton, Jr., launched several Insta-Burger-King outlets in Miami beginning in 1954. Unlike most of the other fast-food entrepreneurs who had limited education, Edgerton and McLamore both held degrees from Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration. Nevertheless, they were unable to make a profit, so they began to experiment. They disposed of the Insta-Broiler and created a flame broiler, for which Burger King became famous. They also introduced the Whopper hamburger, which they sold for 37 cents-a risky venture because McDonald's hamburgers sold for 15 cents at the time. The Whopper was an instant success and it became the company's signature product. The tag line "Burger King, Home of the Whopper" appeared in many of the company's advertisements. When the Jacksonville Insta-Burger-King chain had financial troubles, Edgerton and McLamore acquired the national rights to the system and they launched Burger King of Miami. They began a massive franchising effort in 1961." (SOURCE: http://hubpages.com/hub/Burger-King)

Looks like though Jacksonville's "Insta-Burger" chain sparked the idea, the creators of "Burger King" bought them out.

[duvaldude08]

regardless of what it is all cool history. I love to ready ANYTHING that has to do with Jacksonville,  no matter how significant or insignificant.

[urbanlibertarian]

Back on topic, is the former location at Tallulah Av and Main St (now Jax Diet Alert) the oldest KFC location in Jax?

[Timkin]

Somewhat along the lines of this topic there was a KFC (then Kentucky Fried Chicken) in Green Cove Springs in the late 60s/early 70s @ the Corner of Highway 17/ Highway 16.  If I am not mistaken  KFC was founded , I believe in 1967 .(?) So the GCS Location obviously wasnt first, but it was among the beginning ones of the Chain.  Always wondered why it went from Kentucky Fried Chicken to KFC but always supposed this came after Colonel Sanders passing and possibly the chain changing hands.  Depending on the location , it still remains a good product, although I think the Colonel would be jumping up and down and throwing his cane at some of the changes that took place over the years..  He was up in his years when he founded the first restaurant , in Corbin , Ky.  I have seen that one .