SPRINGDALE, Arkansas — AQ Chicken House is closing its doors after 75 years, the manager confirmed on Thursday, March 2.
A-Q stands for Arkansas Quality—the Springdale restaurant has held an iconic reputation as hosting a community-based atmosphere.
Over the years the restaurant has built a rich history with appearances from Former President Bill Clinton.
AQ chicken house has left its mark on people from all over, one customer Mary Stonecipher reflected on her high school class trip in 1958.
"So we stopped at the AQ chicken, and each of us had our dinner. It was the first big restaurant I guess that I ever ate at, but we lived right there around Harrison and it was a good experience," said Stonecipher
Ever since her class trip, mary, and her family have come here ever since. She loves the place because of the service, atmosphere, and most importantly the food.
"Today, I'm eating chicken livers, a baked potato, and creamed spinach," said Stonecipher.
As the dinner rush piled in, people came to enjoy the restaurant's final days and even talked about their favorite memories there.
"We brought a coworker of my husbands—she's from Puerto Rico so we brought her here and they have the map out there where you could put the pin where you're from and that's kind of a fun thing to see where everybody's from that comes here and enjoys the food, "said customer Cindy Fatkin.
One thing customers could not decide on is where their next go-to restaurant is going to be.
"I don't know where we'll go now, we'll just have to wait and see," Stonecipher said.
"I don't know...because no one else has their coals...the chicken over the coals, it's my favorite," Fatkin explained.
AQ Chicken was even a filming spot for season 3 of HBO's True Detective in 2018.
The location in Springdale opened for the first time in 1947.
AQ Chicken House's manager confirmed that the restaurant will close its doors on March 18 and that the property has already been sold.
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