Illinois' Top Hole-in-the-Wall Fried Chicken Spot Celebrates Decades of Delicious Comfort Food

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This unassuming fried chicken joint in the river town of Alton, Illinois has maintained a decades-long reputation for serving some of the best fried chicken in the state. While the original owner's son went on to open the renowned Fast Eddie's Bon Air bar, the senior Eddie kept cranking out the same delicious fried chicken recipe at the original location, which has now been passed down to his daughter.

Why it matters

Hole-in-the-wall restaurants like Fast Eddie's Fried Chicken have found a special niche in American culture, providing excellent comfort food at unassuming locations. This story highlights how a family-owned business can thrive for generations by sticking to its roots and maintaining quality, even as the surrounding area changes.

The details

Fast Eddie's Fried Chicken is not located at the same site as the famous Fast Eddie's Bon Air bar in Alton. Instead, it's a separate fried chicken joint that was opened in the 1970s by Eddie Sholar Sr. While his son went on to open the popular bar, the senior Eddie continued operating the fried chicken spot, which is now run by his daughter and still serves the same light, crispy, and juicy fried chicken recipe that has built a loyal following over the decades.

• Fast Eddie's Fried Chicken opened in the 1970s.
• The business has been passed down through generations of the Sholar family.