Ezell’s Famous Chicken is Coming To Everett. Oprah Winfrey (who has said it’s her favorite) Invited to the Grand Opening.

I spoke with Ezell Stephens and his wife Thistle on Sunday after driving by the old Franchesco’s at 615 112th SE (corner of 7th Ave SE and 112th in South Everett) and seeing Ezell’s signs on the window. I spoke personally with Thistle and then later talked with Ezell on the phone and both told me how excited they were to be coming to Everett. Apparently the lease is coming up on the Lynnwood location so they contacted Judith Card of Keller Williams who found them this location. One of the things that excited them the most was the size of the restaurant and the fact that there’s lots of room to dine in. Ezell told me it’s really the first of the locations he’s had that has a nice full size dining room. While there is a dispute going on between Ezell Stephens and the corporate board of directors for Ezell’s, (you can read about that here in a piece done by Rick Anderson in the Seattle Weekly), both Ezell and Thistle say this location is separate from any disputes and is owned by only them. The Everett location is expected to be open sometime in March, two or three days after the Lynnwood store closes. They will be bringing the crew from Lynnwood to Everett and expect to employ more than a dozen people once they are up and running. The Everett location is also getting some items not on the menu at other Ezell’s including pie-cake and shredded barbecue chicken. As far as Oprah showing up, Ezell says he making the invitation and hopes she’ll at least mention it if she can’t find the time to stop by. (Oprah has had Ezell’s chicken flown in to Chicago and Ezell has also flown to Chicago to personally cook it for her birthday party).