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The Chicken InnSHELBYVILLE, INDIANA
The Chicken Inn dining room

Welcome to The Chicken Inn

The story continues…

To the generations of families who have shared a meal at our tables.

  1. 1940s

    The Chicken and Steak Inn opens

    First opened near the end of WWII at 1137 E Michigan Road by the Kremer and Zinser families.

  2. 1950s–60s

    Part of the cruising route

    Teens circled the square, headed out Broadway to the Root Beer Barrel, and finished the night at the Chicken Inn.

  3. 1969

    One of 23

    The Inn was one of just 23 eating establishments in the Shelbyville vicinity. Martin Zinser later purchased the restaurant and renamed it The Chicken Inn.

  4. 2004

    The Hardin years

    Rosalie and Dave Hardin ran it as a family friendly, family run business for 17 years — many employees were family, and those who weren't became extended family.

  5. 2004–2021

    New classics

    The Hardins kept the Pressure-Fried Chicken going and added fried biscuits with homemade apple butter, sweet potato fries, more homemade soups, the glazed pecan chicken salad, and a long list of homemade desserts.

  6. 2021

    The story continues

    Kent Hankins and Bill Aughe purchased the Chicken Inn and hold on to as many of the great traditions and recipes as possible.

Fried biscuits served with homemade apple butter

Still a family operation

The team today includes some of the original Hardin family, new family members who have joined along the way, and plenty of extended family — and Rosalie still stops in from time to time with her impressive desserts.

Come on in and taste the memories.

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