MY EVERETT NEWS

They were lined up by the dozens to get the 1st taste of Ezell's Famous Chicken in Everett

Ezell’s Famous Chicken is open in Everett. When I stopped by around 6pm folks were lined up out the door, Ezell was in the kitchen going 100 miles an hour and people we’re lovin’ that “little taste of heaven”. Welcome to Everett Ezell and Thistle, we’re glad you’re here.

Ezell Stephens is excited for the opening of his Everett location on Tuesday April 5th at 11:00am. Click the photo for directions.

I stopped in yesterday and saw Ezell and Thistle Stephens, were hard at work setting up their new Everett location, (615 112th Street SE). Ezell says the plan is to open on Tuesday (April 5th) at 11am after they get the final inspections signed off. Since I first blogged about Ezell’s coming to Everett, people have been bombarding me with emails and questions about the new location and its scheduled opening. So now you know. While I’ve talked to him on the phone, this was the first time I’ve met Ezell personally and he’s really a friendly, positive person. A pleasure to talk with. I’m really looking forward to enjoying that “little taste of heaven” as he like to describe his chicken. By the way, it does not appear that Oprah Winfrey will be stopping by which means, there will be that much more great chicken for the rest of us.

Look for the exact date in April to be announced in the next couple of weeks.

Just got off the phone with Ezell Stephens about the opening of his Everett location. I first wrote about Ezell’s coming to Everett back on February 21st. At that time he told me that he hoped to be open in March but hey if you’ve ever done a remodeling project, you know how things can get pushed back. Ezell says he’s excited about opening and they’re moving ahead as fast as possible so now look for Ezells to open the first week of April. I’ll post the exact date as soon as I find it out when that “little taste of heaven” finally hits Everett.

Ezell's Famous Chicken will open next month at 615 112th Street SE in South Everett. The Lynnwood store will be closing. Ezell says his chicken is a little taste of heaven

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).