Western Kentucky's infallible guide to good eats, Louis Hatchett Jr., has been keeping us posted about the fate of the Bon Ton Mini Mart restaurant in Henderson, home of some of America's very best fried chicken. Yesterday Louis sent the following very worrisome note (which I have abridged):
I learned today that the Bon Ton Mini Mart will be auctioned off on
June 1, 2008.
George Markham, the proprietor of the Bon Ton, has never owned the
building that the Bon Ton operates out of. He has always paid a
monthly rent to operate it on that piece of property.
...
Whoever ends up with the property can keep the restaurant and tear
down the house, or vice-versa. Or keep both. Or tear down both.
It's really up to them.
...
Donna King, who owns the famous fried chicken recipe, and who is the
cook at the restaurant, wants everyone to know that the recipe doesn't
come with the building.
...
I think they'd like to see the restaurant fall into friendly hands,
Therefore, if interested, any potential restaurant owners might
investigate the particulars. Sooner than later.
If you know some people in the restaurant business--or people who want
to enter it with a sure-fire recipe to begin with--they need to
contact the Bon Ton Mini Mart and find out the details from them about
the auction.