Get Your Church's Kitchen Chicken While You Can

Learned tonight that retirement is nigh. I try to avoid speaking out of turn when it comes to local businesses, but I'd kick myself if I missed a chance to order a final meal (or two or three) there -- or was someone who always intended to go but never did. I won't give the date, in case their plans change, but I wouldn't wait until summer if I were you. 

And don't forget the ribs and fixin's.

noooooooooo!

Well that totally blows   Happy for them, but they will be missed. 

This will not be good news in my office first thing Friday morning.

DaveSchmidt said:

... or was someone who always intended to go but never did. 

That would be me. I'll make it a point to get over there soon (maybe we should do a joint takeout dinner), though I almost hate to discover how much I love it now that it's about to go away. : - (

Meanwhile, I just checked the map to make sure I know where it is, and I see another place just a few blocks over called MaMa's Southern Style BBQ. Has anyone tried that place? Do they do fried chicken, or just BBQ chicken?

Church's doesn't "do" fried chicken, they perfect it.

What they do is very hard work, all that cooking, and tons of it! they deserve a rest, but I will really miss them, was just there last week! Good luck to them and hoping they enjoy their retirement

Church's is a local treasure. So is the family.  What's wonderful people. Thanks for letting us know.  

+1

terp said:

Church's doesn't "do" fried chicken, they perfect it.

terp, you have said it all!  Judy and Leroy are two of the finest folks and have raised an accomplished daughter.  Happy for their retirement, sad for losing the best fried chicken in New Jersey!

Best Regards,

Ron Carter

For the uninitiated:  http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/17/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/17qbitenj.html?_r=0

I'm sure the prices have changed!

-Ron

Judy's hugs are not on the menu but are priceless!  We tried hard to get them up Springfield into Maplewood as a rational option during the KFC issue back in the day!

+1 I'll miss them too! They catered my 40th bday.

jeffl said:

Church's is a local treasure. So is the family.  What's wonderful people. Thanks for letting us know.  

How nigh are we talking? I may know what I want for my birthday.

mrincredible said:

How nigh are we talking? I may know what I want for my birthday.

I PM'd you. 

jeffl said:

Church's is a local treasure. So is the family.  What's wonderful people. Thanks for letting us know.  

I can't believe we haven't heard of this place until now. Will have to swing by before hitting 78 on my way home from work.

DaveSchmidt said:

mrincredible said:

How nigh are we talking? I may know what I want for my birthday.

I PM'd you. 

Would you mind PM'ing me, too?

Could someone please PM me as well?

I'm sad to hear this, as they're such wonderful people that make such incredible food. The first we tried it, my wife went into labor (two weeks early).  They did the food when I finished grad school, and have been a go-to for other family gatherings. I always enjoyed talking with them and would never forgive myself if I didn't get one last meal and get to thank them in person.

DaveSchmidt said:

mrincredible said:

How nigh are we talking? I may know what I want for my birthday.

I PM'd you. 

Please PM me, too, with that information.

please PM me as well

Since answering this many PMs would get me closer to broadcasting the date than I'd be comfortable with (without asking the Churches first), I'd prefer that you call them and ask. If they give one of you permission to share the date, please do. 

ETA: Keep in mind, I advised not waiting until summer, a phrase I chose carefully.

That answers that, then.  Thanks very much again for the heads-up.

Love them and their food.  They are the sweetest people.  For years, they have catered my church in montclair's pre-concert dinners for our choir, and this Sunday's dinner will be extra special.  They will be missed.

Going to miss them, what a wonderful family and the best fried chicken I have ever eaten!!

I know it wouldn't be the same, but I wish they had some family who would move up here and continue the business. Or maybe sell the place to a local chef (with training) to keep it going.

When you consider the hand over fist cash and top tier restaurant reviews sub-par Brooklyn chicken places like Pies 'n Thighs or Sweet Chick get, Church's should be a NJ treasure. Continuing their legacy would seemingly be a better business plan than yet another cupcake place or opening up a Jamaican spot six blocks away from Munchie's. Preservation can be a creative and entrepreneurial act.

grocerylist said:

I know it wouldn't be the same, but I wish they had some family who would move up here and continue the business. Or maybe sell the place to a local chef (with training) to keep it going.

When you consider the hand over fist cash and top tier restaurant reviews sub-par Brooklyn chicken places like Pies 'n Thighs or Sweet Chick get, Church's should be a NJ treasure. Continuing their legacy would seemingly be a better business plan than yet another cupcake place or opening up a Jamaican spot six blocks away from Munchie's. Preservation can be a creative and entrepreneurial act.

YES. Preach. 

Come on, isn't there someone on here who can take over and keep it going?

There have been many exceptional local businesses whose food I will never be able to eat again because the owner(s) either died or retired, and nobody in the family wanted to keep the businesses going. This even extended to my grandfather's dandelion wine -- none of his nephews would learn how to make it, so nobody ever had it again.  I think it's an awful shame, and very selfish of those people.  I love the Church's family and wish them well and thank them for the joy they brought to our tastebuds, but if you don't want to run the business any more, why wouldn't you sell the recipes to someone else?

grocerylist said:

I know it wouldn't be the same, but I wish they had some family who would move up here and continue the business. Or maybe sell the place to a local chef (with training) to keep it going.

When you consider the hand over fist cash and top tier restaurant reviews sub-par Brooklyn chicken places like Pies 'n Thighs or Sweet Chick get, Church's should be a NJ treasure. Continuing their legacy would seemingly be a better business plan than yet another cupcake place or opening up a Jamaican spot six blocks away from Munchie's. Preservation can be a creative and entrepreneurial act.

Only if someone could be found who was also willing to put their heart and soul into it.  I remember Gruning's in South Orange center when it was purchased, I even worked for the last owners for a brief period of time.  It was treated more as a business for the sole sake of generating income (I was actually yelled at by a manager for going above and beyond for a customer with special needs) than as a source of pride as the Gruning's family had seen it.  The drop in quality showed, which was followed by the loss of business.

Thank you for the head's up - I'll be sure to get a few fixes in before summer!

spontaneous said:

grocerylist said:

I know it wouldn't be the same, but I wish they had some family who would move up here and continue the business. Or maybe sell the place to a local chef (with training) to keep it going.

When you consider the hand over fist cash and top tier restaurant reviews sub-par Brooklyn chicken places like Pies 'n Thighs or Sweet Chick get, Church's should be a NJ treasure. Continuing their legacy would seemingly be a better business plan than yet another cupcake place or opening up a Jamaican spot six blocks away from Munchie's. Preservation can be a creative and entrepreneurial act.

Only if someone could be found who was also willing to put their heart and soul into it.  I remember Gruning's in South Orange center when it was purchased, I even worked for the last owners for a brief period of time.  It was treated more as a business for the sole sake of generating income (I was actually yelled at by a manager for going above and beyond for a customer with special needs) than as a source of pride as the Gruning's family had seen it.  The drop in quality showed, which was followed by the loss of business.

This is true --the successor versions don't quite match the originals.  When I was a kid there was the most fantastic bread store in Hoboken named Gustoso's.  There will never be a bread product like it ever again.  Sonny had a heart attack and died and his business did also.  Many years later one of his nephews who claimed he had the recipe opened a store in Little Ferry and former Hobokenites flocked there to again have the great bread.  But, alas, close, but no cigar.  And also why I may make delicious versions of my grandmother's recipes, they're never quite there.  Oh well, we try....