Wednesday, December 21, 2011

KFC No Longer Bulletproof

They still have the security at the drive-through window.


Post and photos by the Hawthorne Hawkman.

In recent neighborhood meetings about the proposed Hennepin County Hub project, much has been made about how the nearest familiar place for MPS employees to eat lunch is the KFC across the street.  And if this weren't bad enough, folks said, the KFC on Broadway still had bulletproof glass!  I worked at the US Bank off of Lake and Chicago for a good five years, and I remember how unsafe I felt at the KFC there when they had bulletproof glass, and how much more welcoming it was when that was finally removed.

So I set out to take a few pictures of the barrier and put up a scathing blog post telling Kentucky Fried Chicken exactly how they are doing a disservice to the neighborhood.  But I wasn't about to just waltz in there, snap a few photos, and leave.  I felt an obligation to purchase something from them if I was going to put the establishment through the proverbial wringer.  I admit I've never been in this joint before, as I rarely eat fast food.  I thought I'd find something that would go well enough with the spinach-avocado-pomegranate salad back home, take a picture of the bulletproof glass, and be on my way.

Instead, I walked in, saw that the glass has been removed, and decided I no longer needed the karma points of buying something before blogging.  So for the record everyone, the bulletproof glass between the cashiers and customers is no longer there at Broadway's KFC.  From my perspective, this is kind of like adding an in-flight move to the Hindenburg; the experience might be more enjoyable but it's still fundamentally flawed.

And then it occurred to me:  I might be the only person in the history of ever to walk into a restaurant, expect a bulletproof window, then say "oh hell no," before turning around and leaving. 

4 comments:

  1. I'm not sure that avoiding a purchase sends the correct message of support for a business that is making a positive contribution to the community, but you could have had Pizza Hut across the street.

    By the way- maybe some of those new window zealots could use that glass as I am sure it has great R value.

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  2. I was being sarcastic there, but the real reason I didn't support their business is because I very rarely eat fast food. Since there is almost no healthy food options along Broadway, I chose to go home and eat a salad instead. But since other people at recent community meetings had brought up the (non non-existent) glass as a reason they hadn't patronized KFC, I thought I'd point out the improvement.

    And I'll make this promise as well: the next several times I feel like I want a guilty pleasure, artery-clogging dining choice (which does happen on occasion) I'll give that business to KFC on Broadway.

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  3. I remember being in KFC on election night, 2008. There was no glass then, either. So maybe it came out when they renovated that location a few years back?

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