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{{Short description|Restaurant chain in Southern California}}
{{self published|date=September 2014}}
{{self published|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox company
{{Infobox company
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| location_city = [[San Bernardino, California]]
| location_city = [[San Bernardino, California]]
| location_country = [[United States]]
| location_country = [[United States]]
| locations = 26 restaurants (2014)
| locations = 25 restaurants (2023)
| area_served = Southern California
| area_served = Southern California
| key_people = Albert Okura <small>Founder</small>
| key_people = Albert Okura <small>Founder</small>
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}}
}}


'''Juan Pollo''' is a [[Mexican cuisine|Mexican-style]] [[rotisserie chicken]] restaurant chain headquartered in San Bernardino, California founded in 1984 by [[Albert Okura]]. Its restaurants are located mostly in the [[Inland Empire]] region of [[Southern California]], with other locations in [[Riverside County, California|Riverside]], [[San Bernardino County, California|San Bernardino]] and [[Orange County, California|Orange]] counties as well as the state of [[Colorado]].
'''Juan Pollo''' is a [[Mexican cuisine|Mexican-style]] [[rotisserie chicken]] restaurant chain headquartered in San Bernardino, California founded in 1984 by [[Albert Okura]]. Its restaurants are located mostly in the [[Inland Empire]] region of [[Southern California]], with other locations in [[Riverside County, California|Riverside]], [[San Bernardino County, California|San Bernardino]] and [[Orange County, California|Orange]] counties.


==History==
==History==
Okura, originally a native of [[Wilmington, Los Angeles|Wilmington, California]], held a number of managerial positions in [[fast food restaurant]]s in the area for [[Burger King]] and [[Del Taco]] in the '70s and '80s. While serving as the manager for a Del Taco in [[Carson, California]] in 1981, an [[El Pollo Loco]] opened opposite of his restaurant.<ref name="The Chicken Man with the 50 Year Plan: Albert Okura and Fast Food History">{{Cite web |url= http://www.kcet.org/updaily/socal_focus/commentary/notes-of-a-native-daughter/fast-food-history-california.html |publisher= KCET.org| title= The Chicken Man with the 50 Year Plan: Albert Okura and Fast Food History |access-date=August 24, 2014}}</ref>
Okura, originally a native of [[Wilmington, Los Angeles|Wilmington, California]], held a number of managerial positions in [[fast food restaurant]]s in the area for [[Burger King]] and [[Del Taco]] in the '70s and '80s. While serving as the manager for a Del Taco in [[Carson, California]] in 1981, an [[El Pollo Loco]] opened opposite of his restaurant.<ref name="The Chicken Man with the 50 Year Plan: Albert Okura and Fast Food History">{{Cite web |url= http://www.kcet.org/updaily/socal_focus/commentary/notes-of-a-native-daughter/fast-food-history-california.html |publisher= KCET.org| title= The Chicken Man with the 50 Year Plan: Albert Okura and Fast Food History |date= 5 September 2012|access-date=August 24, 2014}}</ref>


He was impressed by the chain's char-broiled chicken and the simplicity of its operations. As he investigated what his options were to opening a chicken char-broiled restaurant, he met Armando Parra, who mentioned his area of [[Chihuahua (state)|Chihuahua]], [[Mexico]] had many rotisserie style chicken restaurants.<ref name= "This Chicken Will Wing Its Way Into Your Heart">{{cite news |last= Baffrey|first= Norman|date= August 3, 1986|title= This Chicken Will Wing Its Way Into Your Heart |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1049266/the_san_bernardino_county_sun/ |newspaper= [[The San Bernardino County Sun]] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |location= San Bernardino|access-date= August 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6Sm8EtQ6Z?url=http://www.newspapers.com/clippings/downloadClipping/?id=1049266 |archive-date=2014-09-22 |url-status=live}} {{Open access}}</ref>
He was impressed by the chain's char-broiled chicken and the simplicity of its operations. As he investigated what his options were to opening a chicken char-broiled restaurant, he met Armando Parra, who mentioned his area of [[Chihuahua (state)|Chihuahua]], [[Mexico]] had many rotisserie style chicken restaurants.<ref name= "This Chicken Will Wing Its Way Into Your Heart">{{cite news |last= Baffrey|first= Norman|date= August 3, 1986|title= This Chicken Will Wing Its Way Into Your Heart |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1049266/the_san_bernardino_county_sun/ |newspaper= [[The San Bernardino County Sun]] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |location= San Bernardino|access-date= August 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140922095648/http://www.newspapers.com/clippings/downloadClipping/?id=1049266 |archive-date=2014-09-22 |url-status=live}} {{Open access}}</ref>


Okura located a restaurant location in [[Ontario, California]] but Parra believed the location was too small for char-broiled but suggested using rotisserie cooking instead.<ref name="The Chicken Man with the 50 Year Plan: Albert Okura and Fast Food History"/><ref name= "This Chicken Will Wing Its Way Into Your Heart"/> Okura changed his plans to rotisserie chicken and opened the first Juan Pollo in January 1984. Sales for the first day were $165, but Okura refined the operations of the restaurant, including what chicken sizes worked best, cooking time and flame temperature.<ref name="A man with a plan">{{Cite web |url= http://www.sbsun.com/opinion/20090409/a-man-with-a-plan |publisher= The San Bernardino Sun| title= A man with a plan |access-date=August 24, 2014}}</ref>
Okura located a restaurant location in [[Ontario, California]] but Parra believed the location was too small for char-broiled but suggested using rotisserie cooking instead.<ref name="The Chicken Man with the 50 Year Plan: Albert Okura and Fast Food History"/><ref name= "This Chicken Will Wing Its Way Into Your Heart"/> Okura changed his plans to rotisserie chicken and opened the first Juan Pollo in January 1984. Sales for the first day were $165, but Okura refined the operations of the restaurant, including what chicken sizes worked best, cooking time and flame temperature.<ref name="A man with a plan">{{Cite web |url= http://www.sbsun.com/opinion/20090409/a-man-with-a-plan |publisher= The San Bernardino Sun| title= A man with a plan |date= 9 April 2009|access-date=August 24, 2014}}</ref>


Juan Pollo's second location opened in San Bernardino in January 1986. The restaurant also received a favorable review from Norman Baffry, a food critic for ''[[The San Bernardino Sun]]'', which increased the popularity of the two restaurants.<ref name= "This Chicken Will Wing Its Way Into Your Heart"/>
Juan Pollo's second location opened in San Bernardino in January 1986. The restaurant also received a favorable review from Norman Baffry, a food critic for ''[[The San Bernardino Sun]]'', which increased the popularity of the two restaurants.<ref name= "This Chicken Will Wing Its Way Into Your Heart"/>


Okura trained his hourly employees to become future Juan Pollo owner/operators, and most of the restaurants are owned by former employees of the chain.<ref name="Franchise Information">{{Cite web |url= http://juanpollo.com/our-story/franchise-information/ |publisher= Juanpollo.com| title= Franchise information |access-date=August 24, 2014}}</ref>
Okura trained his hourly employees to become future Juan Pollo owner/operators, and most of the restaurants are owned by former employees of the chain.<ref name="Franchise Information">{{Cite web|title=Franchise information|url=http://juanpollo.com/our-story/franchise-information/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140902202511/http://juanpollo.com/our-story/franchise-information/|archive-date=September 2, 2014|access-date=August 24, 2014|publisher=Juanpollo.com}}</ref>


==Philanthropy==
==Philanthropy==
In 1998, Okura purchased the location of the original [[McDonald's]], opened in 1948, for $135,000 in a foreclosure sale.<ref name="Entrepreneur channels San Bernardino's history">{{Cite web |url= http://www.marketplace.org/node/63411/player |publisher= Marketplace.org |title= Entrepreneur channels San Bernardino's history |access-date= August 24, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141205002237/http://www.marketplace.org/node/63411/player |archive-date= December 5, 2014 |url-status= dead }}</ref><ref name="SAN BERNARDINO: McDonald's museum pays homage to the hamburger">{{Cite web |url= http://www.pe.com/articles/mcdonald-698775-okura-first.html |publisher= The Press-Enterprise| title= SAN BERNARDINO: McDonald's museum pays homage to the hamburger |access-date=August 24, 2014}}</ref>
In 1998, Okura purchased the location of the original [[McDonald's]], opened in 1948, for $135,000 in a foreclosure sale.<ref name="Entrepreneur channels San Bernardino's history">{{Cite web |url= http://www.marketplace.org/node/63411/player |publisher= Marketplace.org |title= Entrepreneur channels San Bernardino's history |access-date= August 24, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141205002237/http://www.marketplace.org/node/63411/player |archive-date= December 5, 2014 |url-status= dead }}</ref><ref name="SAN BERNARDINO: McDonald's museum pays homage to the hamburger">{{Cite web |url= http://www.pe.com/articles/mcdonald-698775-okura-first.html |publisher= The Press-Enterprise| title= SAN BERNARDINO: McDonald's museum pays homage to the hamburger |date= 13 August 2014|access-date=August 24, 2014}}</ref>


Okura relocated his corporate offices to the location, and opened an unofficial McDonald's museum on the site. Okura refers to the location as the "historic site of the original McDonald's," due to legal issues with McDonald's. Okura didn't plan to open the museum; it was a news item incorrectly stating that he was planning on opening a museum which gave him the idea.<ref name="A Loving Shrine to McDonald's That McDonald's Shuns">{{Cite web |url= http://articles.latimes.com/2004/nov/26/local/me-mcdonalds26 |work= Los Angeles Times| title= A Loving Shrine to McDonald's That McDonald's Shuns |access-date=August 24, 2014}}</ref>
Okura relocated his corporate offices to the location, and opened an unofficial McDonald's museum on the site. Okura refers to the location as the "historic site of the original McDonald's," due to legal issues with McDonald's. Okura didn't plan to open the museum; it was a news item incorrectly stating that he was planning on opening a museum which gave him the idea.<ref name="A Loving Shrine to McDonald's That McDonald's Shuns">{{Cite web|title=A Loving Shrine to McDonald's That McDonald's Shuns|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2004/nov/26/local/me-mcdonalds26|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140902202522/http://articles.latimes.com/2004/nov/26/local/me-mcdonalds26|archive-date=September 2, 2014|access-date=August 24, 2014|work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>


Juan Pollo has become involved with the revival of [[U.S. Route 66|Route 66]], hosting its own annual Veteran's Day Parade and Car Show in front of the unofficial McDonald's Museum. Juan Pollo also has been one of the main toy contributors for the annual Christmas toy give away at the Route 66 park at La Placita on Mt. Vernon Avenue in San Bernardino.<ref name="Veterans Day parade and car show highlights a new mural">{{Cite web |url= http://www.highlandnews.net/entertainment/article_2939ee31-1c33-5237-87c5-f882ee01dc74.html?mode=jqm |publisher= Highland Community News| title= Veterans Day parade and car show highlights a new mural |access-date=August 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Boy and Girls Christmas toy giveaway serves 700 kids">{{Cite web |url= http://iecn.com/archives/archive/WEB2013/12:26:13%20Web%20Pages/EC2.pdf |publisher= El Chicano Weekly| title= Boy and Girls Christmas toy giveaway serves 700 kids |access-date=August 24, 2014}}</ref>
Juan Pollo has become involved with the revival of [[U.S. Route 66|Route 66]], hosting its own annual Veteran's Day Parade and Car Show in front of the unofficial McDonald's Museum. Juan Pollo also has been one of the main toy contributors for the annual Christmas toy give away at the Route 66 park at La Placita on Mt. Vernon Avenue in San Bernardino.<ref name="Veterans Day parade and car show highlights a new mural">{{Cite web |url= http://www.highlandnews.net/entertainment/article_2939ee31-1c33-5237-87c5-f882ee01dc74.html?mode=jqm |publisher= Highland Community News| title= Veterans Day parade and car show highlights a new mural |access-date=August 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Boy and Girls Christmas toy giveaway serves 700 kids">{{Cite web |url= http://iecn.com/archives/archive/WEB2013/12:26:13%20Web%20Pages/EC2.pdf |publisher= El Chicano Weekly| title= Boy and Girls Christmas toy giveaway serves 700 kids |access-date=August 24, 2014}}</ref>


Okura also purchased the town of [[Amboy, California]] on Route 66 in 2005 for $425,000. Okura plans on improving the town, adding a museum and making it a destination for those who are interested in Route 66.<ref name="A look at Juan Pollo founder Albert Okura's success, big dreams">{{Cite web |url= http://www.sbsun.com/lifestyle/20140817/a-look-at-juan-pollo-founder-albert-okuras-success-big-dreams |publisher= San Bernardino Sun| title= A look at Juan Pollo founder Albert Okura's success, big dreams |access-date=August 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Destiny in the desert">{{Cite web |url= http://articles.latimes.com/2007/jan/17/local/me-amboy17 |work= Los Angeles Times| title= Destiny in the desert |access-date=August 24, 2014}}</ref>
Okura also purchased the town of [[Amboy, California]] on Route 66 in 2005 for $425,000. Okura plans on improving the town, adding a museum and making it a destination for those who are interested in Route 66.<ref name="A look at Juan Pollo founder Albert Okura's success, big dreams">{{Cite web |url= http://www.sbsun.com/lifestyle/20140817/a-look-at-juan-pollo-founder-albert-okuras-success-big-dreams |publisher= San Bernardino Sun| title= A look at Juan Pollo founder Albert Okura's success, big dreams |date= 17 August 2014|access-date=August 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Destiny in the desert">{{Cite web|title=Destiny in the desert|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2007/jan/17/local/me-amboy17|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120527025006/http://articles.latimes.com/2007/jan/17/local/me-amboy17|archive-date=May 27, 2012|access-date=August 24, 2014|work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
Line 60: Line 61:
[[Category:People from Wilmington, Los Angeles]]
[[Category:People from Wilmington, Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Restaurants in California]]
[[Category:Restaurants in California]]
[[Category:1984 establishments in California]]


==External links==
==External links==

Revision as of 18:06, 20 February 2024

Juan Pollo Franchise Corporation
Company typePrivate
IndustrieRestaurant
Gegründet1984; 40 years ago (1984) in Ontario, California, United States
GründerAlbert Okura
Hauptsitz
San Bernardino, California
,
Vereinigte Staaten
Number of locations
25 restaurants (2023)
Area served
Southern California
Key people
Albert Okura Founder
ProdukteRotisserie chicken

Juan Pollo is a Mexican-style rotisserie chicken restaurant chain headquartered in San Bernardino, California founded in 1984 by Albert Okura. Its restaurants are located mostly in the Inland Empire region of Southern California, with other locations in Riverside, San Bernardino and Orange counties.

History

Okura, originally a native of Wilmington, California, held a number of managerial positions in fast food restaurants in the area for Burger King and Del Taco in the '70s and '80s. While serving as the manager for a Del Taco in Carson, California in 1981, an El Pollo Loco opened opposite of his restaurant.[1]

He was impressed by the chain's char-broiled chicken and the simplicity of its operations. As he investigated what his options were to opening a chicken char-broiled restaurant, he met Armando Parra, who mentioned his area of Chihuahua, Mexico had many rotisserie style chicken restaurants.[2]

Okura located a restaurant location in Ontario, California but Parra believed the location was too small for char-broiled but suggested using rotisserie cooking instead.[1][2] Okura changed his plans to rotisserie chicken and opened the first Juan Pollo in January 1984. Sales for the first day were $165, but Okura refined the operations of the restaurant, including what chicken sizes worked best, cooking time and flame temperature.[3]

Juan Pollo's second location opened in San Bernardino in January 1986. The restaurant also received a favorable review from Norman Baffry, a food critic for The San Bernardino Sun, which increased the popularity of the two restaurants.[2]

Okura trained his hourly employees to become future Juan Pollo owner/operators, and most of the restaurants are owned by former employees of the chain.[4]

Philanthropy

In 1998, Okura purchased the location of the original McDonald's, opened in 1948, for $135,000 in a foreclosure sale.[5][6]

Okura relocated his corporate offices to the location, and opened an unofficial McDonald's museum on the site. Okura refers to the location as the "historic site of the original McDonald's," due to legal issues with McDonald's. Okura didn't plan to open the museum; it was a news item incorrectly stating that he was planning on opening a museum which gave him the idea.[7]

Juan Pollo has become involved with the revival of Route 66, hosting its own annual Veteran's Day Parade and Car Show in front of the unofficial McDonald's Museum. Juan Pollo also has been one of the main toy contributors for the annual Christmas toy give away at the Route 66 park at La Placita on Mt. Vernon Avenue in San Bernardino.[8][9]

Okura also purchased the town of Amboy, California on Route 66 in 2005 for $425,000. Okura plans on improving the town, adding a museum and making it a destination for those who are interested in Route 66.[10][11]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "The Chicken Man with the 50 Year Plan: Albert Okura and Fast Food History". KCET.org. 5 September 2012. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c Baffrey, Norman (August 3, 1986). "This Chicken Will Wing Its Way Into Your Heart". The San Bernardino County Sun. San Bernardino. Archived from the original on 2014-09-22. Retrieved August 24, 2014 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ "A man with a plan". The San Bernardino Sun. 9 April 2009. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  4. ^ "Franchise information". Juanpollo.com. Archived from the original on September 2, 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  5. ^ "Entrepreneur channels San Bernardino's history". Marketplace.org. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  6. ^ "SAN BERNARDINO: McDonald's museum pays homage to the hamburger". The Press-Enterprise. 13 August 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  7. ^ "A Loving Shrine to McDonald's That McDonald's Shuns". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 2, 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  8. ^ "Veterans Day parade and car show highlights a new mural". Highland Community News. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  9. ^ "Boy and Girls Christmas toy giveaway serves 700 kids" (PDF). El Chicano Weekly. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  10. ^ "A look at Juan Pollo founder Albert Okura's success, big dreams". San Bernardino Sun. 17 August 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  11. ^ "Destiny in the desert". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 27, 2012. Retrieved August 24, 2014.


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