The original Golden Bird chicken restaurant opened in Athens, Georgia in 1965. It was founded by Roger L. Derst and John W. Mashburn who came up with the idea of a quick service fried chicken restaurant while they were students at the University of Georgia. Here is a brief history of the origins of Golden Bird:
The Beginning
In the early 1960s, Roger L. Derst and John W. Mashburn were students at the University of Georgia in Athens. They noticed that there were no quick service restaurants near campus that served fried chicken, which was a popular food among students at the time.
Inspired by the success of new fast food chains like McDonald’s, Derst and Mashburn decided to open their own quick service restaurant focused on fried chicken. They wanted to create a restaurant that was efficient, consistent, and served high quality food.
After graduating from the University of Georgia, Derst and Mashburn secured funding from family and friends and leased a small building on Milledge Avenue in Athens near the university campus. This first Golden Bird restaurant opened in 1965 with just 12 seats inside.
The First Restaurant
The original Golden Bird restaurant focused on takeout and had a walk-up window where customers could order fried chicken meals to go. The meals were served in paper bags for easy portability.
The signature menu item was the “Golden Roast Chicken” meal which consisted of two pieces of fried chicken, french fries, coleslaw, and a roll. Golden Bird chicken was marinated, breaded, and fried to order ensuring hot and fresh chicken for every customer.
Golden Bird set out to differentiate itself from other fried chicken purveyors by using high quality ingredients and frying in pure vegetable oil. The chicken was marinated to give it a distinctive flavor. The breading recipe was fine tuned over time but kept simple and unseasoned so the flavor of the chicken would shine through.
Early Growth
The first Golden Bird was an immediate hit with University of Georgia students. The restaurant was conveniently located near campus and served delicious fried chicken meals that were both tasty and affordable.
Long lines soon formed at the walk-up window. Derst and Mashburn realized they needed a bigger space to meet demand. In 1967, just two years after opening, they relocated Golden Bird to a larger building still within walking distance of the university campus.
This new restaurant had seating for 40 guests inside along with increased kitchen space. The larger capacity helped Golden Bird become ingrained in the daily lives of UGA students.
Franchising Begins
By the late 1960s, Golden Bird was thriving in Athens and Derst and Mashburn decided to expand their concept. They opened their second Golden Bird location in Atlanta, Georgia in 1969. Located near a busy highway, this suburban restaurant attracted a broader audience beyond just college students.
In 1971, Golden Bird began franchising and opened their first franchise locations in Macon, Georgia. Franchising fueled rapid expansion throughout the 1970s. By the end of the decade there were over 50 Golden Bird restaurants across Georgia and neighboring states.
Golden Bird pioneered the concept of a quick service fried chicken chain. Their early success inspired other brands like Bojangles and Churches Chicken which followed similar formats when they launched in the late 1970s.
Signature Menu Items
While the original Golden Roast Chicken meal remained the most popular menu item, Golden Bird expanded their offerings over the years to give customers more variety.
Some signature items added to the menu included:
- Chicken Tenders – Hand breaded chicken tenderloins fried to a crisp golden brown.
- Chicken Sandwich – A fried chicken breast filet served on a toasted bun with pickles and mayo.
- Chicken Pot Pie – Homestyle chicken pot pie with tender chicken, vegetables, and a golden flaky crust.
- Fried Chicken Livers – For the more adventurous eater.
- Golden Rings – Made from scratch onion rings coated in signature Golden Bird breading.
- Chicken Noodle Soup – Warming and comforting.
- Banana Pudding – Cool and creamy custard with vanilla wafers and banana slices.
These new menu items complemented the fried chicken and helped strengthen Golden Bird’s popularity with the rise of fast food in America.
Continued Growth
Over the ensuing decades, Golden Bird has continued expanding across the Southeastern US. They opened their 100th restaurant in 1985 and their 200th in 1998. Today there are over 400 Golden Bird locations in 12 states.
While the brand has evolved, Golden Bird stays true to its roots serving high quality Southern comfort food in a quick service setting. Fried chicken remains the crown jewel of their menu.
The original restaurant in Athens, Georgia closed in the 1980s. However, there is still a Golden Bird located on the same Milledge Avenue where the first restaurant opened in 1965 serving generations of University of Georgia students.
The Legacy
Golden Bird holds an important place in fast food history as a pioneer of quick service fried chicken. Their early success influenced many other chains that followed.
Throughout decades of expansion, Golden Bird has maintained consistency and quality. Their chicken is still marinated and breaded using a similar process to the original restaurant in the 1960s. Customers can enjoy the same great tasting fried chicken that made the brand famous.
While the menu has grown, the core focus on fried chicken and Southern favorites remains unchanged. Golden Bird is a beloved brand in the South that serves comfort food with nostalgic ties going back over 50 years.
The opening of the first Golden Bird in Athens launched a successful franchise that has now spanned generations. The restaurant offers a distinctive fried chicken recipe served in a fast food setting – an innovation that transformed the quick service landscape and satisfied countless fried chicken cravings.
Conclusion
The original Golden Bird restaurant in Athens, Georgia started a fried chicken empire. The brand pioneered quick service fried chicken and distilled it down to an efficient process focused on high quality ingredients. Their signature chicken marinade and breading recipe resulted in fried chicken that’s become a Southern staple. Golden Bird’s early growth and franchising success helped make it one of the most iconic fast food chains in the region. While the menu has expanded, the original fried chicken remains its crowning glory. The first Golden Bird still holds an important place in fast food history for launching a hugely popular concept that came from humble student beginnings in Athens.