Chicken Shack

Chicken Shack was originally a small sweet shop named Suburban Ice Cream Parlor, established in 1935 by the late Thomas "Tommy" H. Delpit. In 1937 he changed the name to Chicken Shack and added several items to the menu such as red beans and rice, homemade pies, cakes and seafood. 

Tommy built a very prosperous restaurant business, using all of his original recipes. The Chicken Shack has drawn famous clientele from all over the country, such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Hazel Scott, Jackie Robinson, Jesse Owens, Lionel Hampton and Count Basie, who sought out Chicken Shack for its famous batter fried chicken, seafood, sandwiches and home cooked plate lunches.