My 22-year-old son likes Popeyes but only vaguely knows the cartoon character carrying the same name. (The chicken chain is actually named after Popeye Doyle, the character from “The French Connection,” not the spinach-eating sailor).
He’s also unfamiliar with a number of other celebrities who have lent their names to chicken chains, including Roy Rogers, Kenny Rogers, and Roger Clemens.
He does, however, know Yogi Bear, despite the cartoon character having a much lower profile in 2026 than he did during his 1970s and 1980s heyday. And, while he may not know of Mr. Bear’s penchant for stealing “pic-a-nic” baskets and wearing a tie, my son does have some knowledge of the character’s existence.
Neither of us, however, has ever eaten at Yogi Bear Honey Fried Chicken, a fried chicken chain that
Yogi Bear Honey Fried Chicken was once a rising chain
Founded in 1968 by South Carolina restaurateur Eugene Broome, who developed the Honey Fried Chicken concept and began building a themed restaurant chain around it, according to Atlas Obscura.
After being turned down by Jackie Gleason, Broome licensed Yogi Bear and his friends from cartoon giants Hanna-Barbera.
“The new restaurant’s theme included a roadside neon sign representing a big, smiling Yogi Bear holding a chicken leg. Customers could choose between two-piece Boo-Boo Baskets, three-piece Cindy Bear Baskets, nine-piece Picnic Baskets (or “pic-a-nic,” as Yogi would pronounce it), or 21-piece Jellystone Baskets, along with sides and desserts,” Atlas Obscura shared.
More RestaurantsÂ
- McDonald’s latest menu missteps could have a major domino effect
- 76-year-old comfort food chain closes most of its restaurants
- Fast food giant is coming for Starbucks with fan-approved launch
At the time, mascots and celebrity restaurants were a novel idea.
“The marketing choice, albeit a bit of a leap of faith, really took off, and the chain eventually expanded to over 20 locations,” according to Food Republic.
Hardee’s bought Yogi Bear’s Honey Fried Chicken
A larger brand buying its growing competitor does not always work out. Sometimes, the bigger chain makes the purchase because it wants to make the rising challenger go away.
When Hardee’s bought Yogi Bear’s Honey Fried Chicken, it wasn’t doing so to grow the rising chain.
“Hardee’s caught on and wanted a piece of the action, buying the company for $1 million in 1968 — a sum equivalent to roughly $9.2 million today. Unfortunately, it became clear that Hardee’s was primarily interested in owning the signature recipe rather than expanding the franchise,” Food Republic reported.
Under the new owner, “locations received less and less attention until they began to close down, and by the late 1970s, only one location remained in Hartsville, South Carolina, where it still stands today,” the website added.
Shutterstock
Yogi Bear’s Honey Fried Chicken has endured
While most Yogi Bear’s Honey Fried Chicken locations closed over 50 years ago, one remains, as does the legacy of the brand.
“While nobody would mistake Yogi Bear Honey Fried Chicken for one of America’s best soul food eateries, sweetened, crunchy chicken offers an allure that extends well beyond the fast food chain,” Islands.com reported.
The remaining location in Hartsville, South Carolina, still has the giant Yogi Bear holding a chicken leg in front of its strip mall location, and it still serves the same classic recipe. It’s open seven days a week from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The chain’s final location draws visitors interested in the former brand, according to Tasting Table’sDB Kelly, who visited the restaurant.
“It’s taking pride in putting out some seriously delicious, sweet fried chicken that’s been decades in the making, and some make the pilgrimage from states away. It’s the kind of fried chicken that sticks in your memory for years, and when you return? It’s just like you remember it. Hit the drive-thru, and make sure you opt for corn as a side,” according to the website.
Related: McDonald’s, Taco Bell and Chipotle ramp up fast-food price battle