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{{Short description|American restaurant chain}}
{{for|the song by Bill Anderson|Po' Folks (Bill Anderson song)}}
{{for|the song by Bill Anderson|Po' Folks (Bill Anderson song)}}
{{Use MDY dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Use MDY dates|date=June 2019}}
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| industry = Casual Dining Restaurants
| industry = Casual Dining Restaurants
| founded = {{Start date and age|1975|mf=y}} in [[Anderson, South Carolina]]
| founded = {{Start date and age|1975|mf=y}} in [[Anderson, South Carolina]]
| founder = Malcom Hare
| founder = Cole Stewart
| location_city = [[Panama City, Florida]]
| location_city = [[Panama City, Florida]]
| location_country = [[United States]]
| location_country = [[United States]]
| locations = 8 (2019)
| area_served = [[Florida]], [[Alabama]]
| key_people =
| key_people =
| products =
| products =
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}}
}}


'''Po' Folks''' (later restyled '''PoFolks''') is an American family restaurant chain founded in 1975 in [[Anderson, South Carolina]]. Between 1982 and 1988, Po' Folks was operated by the fast food chain [[Krystal (restaurant)|Krystal]].
'''Po' Folks''' (later restyled as '''PoFolks''') is an American family restaurant chain founded in 1975 in [[Anderson, South Carolina]]. Between 1982 and 1988, Po' Folks was operated by the fast food chain [[Krystal (restaurant)|Krystal]]. As of April 2024, the company operates 5 locations in [[Florida]].


==History==
==History==
Malcom Hare opened the first Po' Folks in 1975 in [[Anderson, South Carolina]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19831020&id=V7ROAAAAIBAJ&pg=4415,1554044 |title=Po' Folks: the new kids in town |date=20 October 1983 |newspaper=[[The Ledger]] |location=Lakeland, Florida |accessdate=6 March 2015 |via=[[Google News]]}}</ref><ref name="newsok">{{cite web |url=http://newsok.com/2-entertainers-get-franchise-rights-will-build-po-folks-restaurant-in-city/article/2030852 |title=2 Entertainers Get Franchise Rights, Will Build Po Folks Restaurant in City |date=3 July 1983 |newspaper=[[The Oklahoman]] |accessdate=6 March 2015}}</ref>
Cole Stewart opened the first Po' Folks in 1975 in [[Anderson, South Carolina]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19831020&id=V7ROAAAAIBAJ&pg=4415,1554044 |title=Po' Folks: the new kids in town |date=20 October 1983 |newspaper=[[The Ledger]] |location=Lakeland, Florida |access-date=6 March 2015 |via=[[Google News]]}}</ref><ref name="newsok">{{cite web |url=http://newsok.com/2-entertainers-get-franchise-rights-will-build-po-folks-restaurant-in-city/article/2030852 |title=2 Entertainers Get Franchise Rights, Will Build Po Folks Restaurant in City |date=3 July 1983 |newspaper=[[The Oklahoman]] |access-date=6 March 2015}}</ref>


The restaurant was named after the [[Po' Folks (Bill Anderson song)|1961 hit single]] by [[country music]] singer [[Bill Anderson (singer)|Bill Anderson]].<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Kingsbury |editor-first=Paul |title=The Encyclopedia of Country Music| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=untabCgOVkgC&pg=PA13&dq=%22po+folks%22+%22nashville%22#q=%22po%20folks%22%20%22nashville%22 |page=13 |date=5 October 1998 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0195116717 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> Although Anderson initially planned to file a lawsuit against the chain for using the name, he later sold the rights to the chain and served as its spokesperson. He and [[Conway Twitty]] also acquired franchise rights to a location in [[Oklahoma City]] in 1983.<ref>{{cite book |last=Anderson |first=Bill |title=Whisperin' Bill: An Autobiography |date=May 1989 |publisher=Longstreet Press |page=305 |isbn=978-0929264240 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-EBLAAAAYAAJ |url-access=subscription |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref><ref name="newsok"/> Anderson's country-music themed [[game show]] on [[The Nashville Network|TNN]], ''[[Fandango (game show)|Fandango]]'', was sponsored by the restaurant.
The restaurant was named after the [[Po' Folks (Bill Anderson song)|1961 hit single]] by [[country music]] singer [[Bill Anderson (singer)|Bill Anderson]].<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Kingsbury |editor-first=Paul |title=The Encyclopedia of Country Music| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=untabCgOVkgC&q=%22po+folks%22+%22nashville%22&pg=PA13 |page=13 |date=5 October 1998 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0195116717 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> Although Anderson initially planned to file a lawsuit against the chain for using the name, he later sold the rights to the chain and served as its spokesperson. He and [[Conway Twitty]] also acquired franchise rights to a location in [[Oklahoma City]] in 1983.<ref>{{cite book |last=Anderson |first=Bill |title=Whisperin' Bill: An Autobiography |date=May 1989 |publisher=Longstreet Press |page=305 |isbn=978-0929264240 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-EBLAAAAYAAJ |url-access=subscription |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref><ref name="newsok"/> Anderson's country-music themed [[game show]] on [[The Nashville Network|TNN]], ''[[Fandango (game show)|Fandango]]'', was sponsored by the restaurant.


[[Krystal (restaurant)|Krystal]] acquired Po' Folks in 1982 and continued to expand it. By 1984, the chain had 102 restaurants in 17 states. Eric A. Holm (now with Golden Corral) was director of construction and accused of taking bribes for favorable construction deals.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=266&dat=19840327&id=QfQrAAAAIBAJ&pg=1342,3214746 |title=Reynolds will join Po' Folks |date=27 March 1984 |newspaper=[[Kentucky New Era]] |location=Hopkinsville |accessdate=6 March 2015 |via=[[Google News]]}}</ref> Krystal later merged Po' Folks with DavCo, a division of the company that franchised [[Wendy's]] restaurants.<ref name="hoovers">{{cite web |url=http://www.hoovers.com/company/DavCo_Restaurants_Inc/rjyyri-1-1njhxk.html |title=DavCo Restaurants |work=[[D&B Hoovers|Hoovers]] |accessdate=7 January 2014 |url-status=dead}}{{dead link|date=June 2019}}</ref> In 1988, Po' Folks filed for bankruptcy.<ref>{{cite journal |year=1989 |title=Index |journal=Restaurant Business |volume=88 |issue=1–3 |page=301 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ns8gAQAAMAAJ&q=%22po+folks%22+%22nashville%22&dq=%22po+folks%22+%22nashville%22 |accessdate=29 May 2019 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> As a result, the Po' Folks restaurants were sold, and the remaining assets continued to operate as DavCo.<ref name="hoovers"/> To date, seven PoFolks operate in the Southeast, all but one of which are owned by Peter Sostheim in the [[Florida Panhandle|Panhandle of Florida]] and [[Enterprise, Alabama]], and one in [[St. Petersburg, Florida]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Po' Folks Locations |url=http://www.pofolks.net/locations.aspx |website=Po' Folks Restaurants |accessdate=29 May 2019}}</ref>
[[Krystal (restaurant)|Krystal]] acquired Po' Folks in 1982 and continued to expand it. By 1984, the chain had 102 restaurants in 17 states. Eric A. Holm (now with Golden Corral) was director of construction and accused of taking bribes for favorable construction deals.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=266&dat=19840327&id=QfQrAAAAIBAJ&pg=1342,3214746 |title=Reynolds will join Po' Folks |date=27 March 1984 |newspaper=[[Kentucky New Era]] |location=Hopkinsville |access-date=6 March 2015 |via=[[Google News]]}}</ref> Krystal later merged Po' Folks with DavCo, a division of the company that franchised [[Wendy's]] restaurants.<ref name="hoovers">{{cite web |url=http://www.hoovers.com/company/DavCo_Restaurants_Inc/rjyyri-1-1njhxk.html |title=DavCo Restaurants |work=[[D&B Hoovers|Hoovers]] |access-date=7 January 2014 }}{{dead link|date=June 2019}}</ref>
In 1988, Po' Folks filed for bankruptcy.<ref>{{cite journal |year=1989 |title=Index |journal=Restaurant Business |volume=88 |issue=1–3 |page=301 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ns8gAQAAMAAJ&q=%22po+folks%22+%22nashville%22 |access-date=29 May 2019 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> As a result, the Po' Folks restaurants were sold, and the remaining assets continued to operate as DavCo.<ref name="hoovers"/> Several franchises in the Atlanta, Georgia, area continued to operate as Folks Southern Kitchens until that chain closed in the 2020 [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>[https://www.tonetoatl.com/2020/04/Folks-Southern-Kitchen-Closes-All-Restaurants-Bankruptcy-Filing.html "Folks Southern Kitchen Files For Bankruptcy, Plans to Liquidate."] ToNeTo Atlanta. 7 April 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2023.</ref> {{As of|2023|06|post=,}} there are five PoFolks locations remaining in Florida (in Callaway, Lynn Haven, Niceville, Pensacola and St. Petersburg), purchased after the corporation was liquidated in 1988.

===Buddy Killen-Burt Reynolds Investment===
In the 1980s, actor [[Burt Reynolds]] partnered with [[Killen Music Group]] owner [[Buddy Killen]] to invest in Po' Folks.<ref name="Florida Today">{{cite web |last1=Sangalang |first1=Jennifer |title=Burt Reynolds and his many ties to Florida |url=https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2018/09/06/burt-reynolds-florida/1215362002/ |website=floridatoday.com |publisher=Florida Today |access-date=15 August 2023}}</ref> The failure of the chain, along with the failure of another restaurant chain Killen-Reynolds invested in, personally cost Reynolds a $20 million loss.<ref name="Vanity Fair 2016">{{cite web |last1=Zeman |first1=Ned |title=Burt Reynolds Isn't Broke, but He's Got a Few Regrets |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/11/burt-reynolds-on-career-bankruptcy-regrets |website=vanityfair.com |date=November 5, 2015 |publisher=Vanity Fair |access-date=13 August 2023}}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 13:19, 21 April 2024

For the song by Bill Anderson, see Po' Folks (Bill Anderson song).

PoFolks
Company typePrivate
IndustryCasual Dining Restaurants
Founded1975; 49 years ago (1975) in Anderson, South Carolina
FounderCole Stewart
Headquarters
Panama City, Florida
,
United States
Ownerprivate (1975-82)
Krystal (1982-88)
Peter Sostheim (???–present)
Websitepofolks.com

Po' Folks (later restyled as PoFolks) is an American family restaurant chain founded in 1975 in Anderson, South Carolina. Between 1982 and 1988, Po' Folks was operated by the fast food chain Krystal. As of April 2024, the company operates 5 locations in Florida.

History

[edit]

Cole Stewart opened the first Po' Folks in 1975 in Anderson, South Carolina.[1][2]

The restaurant was named after the 1961 hit single by country music singer Bill Anderson.[3] Although Anderson initially planned to file a lawsuit against the chain for using the name, he later sold the rights to the chain and served as its spokesperson. He and Conway Twitty also acquired franchise rights to a location in Oklahoma City in 1983.[4][2] Anderson's country-music themed game show on TNN, Fandango, was sponsored by the restaurant.

Krystal acquired Po' Folks in 1982 and continued to expand it. By 1984, the chain had 102 restaurants in 17 states. Eric A. Holm (now with Golden Corral) was director of construction and accused of taking bribes for favorable construction deals.[5] Krystal later merged Po' Folks with DavCo, a division of the company that franchised Wendy's restaurants.[6]

In 1988, Po' Folks filed for bankruptcy.[7] As a result, the Po' Folks restaurants were sold, and the remaining assets continued to operate as DavCo.[6] Several franchises in the Atlanta, Georgia, area continued to operate as Folks Southern Kitchens until that chain closed in the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.[8] As of June 2023, there are five PoFolks locations remaining in Florida (in Callaway, Lynn Haven, Niceville, Pensacola and St. Petersburg), purchased after the corporation was liquidated in 1988.

Buddy Killen-Burt Reynolds Investment

[edit]

In the 1980s, actor Burt Reynolds partnered with Killen Music Group owner Buddy Killen to invest in Po' Folks.[9] The failure of the chain, along with the failure of another restaurant chain Killen-Reynolds invested in, personally cost Reynolds a $20 million loss.[10]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Po' Folks: the new kids in town". The Ledger. Lakeland, Florida. October 20, 1983. Retrieved March 6, 2015 – via Google News.
  2. ^ a b "2 Entertainers Get Franchise Rights, Will Build Po Folks Restaurant in City". The Oklahoman. July 3, 1983. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  3. ^ Kingsbury, Paul, ed. (October 5, 1998). The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Oxford University Press. p. 13. ISBN 978-0195116717 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ Anderson, Bill (May 1989). Whisperin' Bill: An Autobiography. Longstreet Press. p. 305. ISBN 978-0929264240 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ "Reynolds will join Po' Folks". Kentucky New Era. Hopkinsville. March 27, 1984. Retrieved March 6, 2015 – via Google News.
  6. ^ a b "DavCo Restaurants". Hoovers. Retrieved January 7, 2014.[dead link‍]
  7. ^ "Index". Restaurant Business. 88 (1–3): 301. 1989. Retrieved May 29, 2019 – via Google Books.
  8. ^ "Folks Southern Kitchen Files For Bankruptcy, Plans to Liquidate." ToNeTo Atlanta. 7 April 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  9. ^ Sangalang, Jennifer. "Burt Reynolds and his many ties to Florida". floridatoday.com. Florida Today. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  10. ^ Zeman, Ned (November 5, 2015). "Burt Reynolds Isn't Broke, but He's Got a Few Regrets". vanityfair.com. Vanity Fair. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
[edit]
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