The owner of the recently closed Ann’s Chicken Fry House building in Oklahoma City said he wants to open a retro diner at that location.
The Oklahoman newspaper confirms what had been rumored with building owner Tony Maxey for several weeks since the restaurant closed:
Maxey wanted to purchase Ann’s and reopen it, but that request didn’t fit with former owner Al Burchette’s wishes.
That’s what Maxey learned when he reached out to Shirley Burchette after she closed the legendary diner earlier this month. Shirley told Maxey her late husband didn’t wish for Ann’s to be owned by anyone outside the family so once she closed its doors everything was sold.
Maxey said he plans to rebuild a new 50’s Route 66 diner on the property. With some luck, Maxey said he thinks he can be up and running by summer.
Ann’s Chicken Fry House, a Route 66 stalwart since the early 1970s, closed in late December, with the operator citing the financial strain caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The restaurant was just short of its 50th anniversary.
The site originally was a Cities Service gas station starting in 1948, then was converted to the Three Bulls Steak House for several years during the late 1960s.
Al Burchette and his brother bought the restaurant and changed it to Ann’s Chicken Fry House in 1971.
UPDATE: Maxey made more of his thoughts known with a Facebook post today:
(Image of Ann’s Chicken Fry House in Oklahoma City by Kool Cats Photography via Flickr)
Ann’s Chicken Fry was a great place to work and an even better place to eat. The absolute best chicken fry. So sad to learn of Al’s passing.