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One of Houma’s oldest restaurants has closed.
The Sunrise Fried Chicken diner at the corner of Barrow Street and Tunnel Boulevard, in operation since 1975, shut down last month. Other Sunrise locations were unaffected.
Jeff Gros operates five Sunrise locations: Savanne Road, Houma; Grand Caillou Road, Houma; West Park Avenue, Houma; Bayou Blue Road, Houma; and Vacherie Street, Lockport.
He turned the Barrow Street location over to a longtime employee in 2011 as he hoped to lessen his workload, he said.
Sunrise still has a loyal customer base, but as fried chicken has become available at gas stations and grocery stores in addition to franchise giants like Popeyes and KFC, it’s increasingly difficult to draw new customers, Gros said.
In response, Gros’ Sunrise locations are in the process of rolling out a new menu, one that emphasizes a variety of seafood po’boys. He has tested hot wings in two locations with the intent to offer them at all five stores by the end of the week. And the fast-food chain now offers delivery through the website www.servinghouma.com.
“We’re starting to broaden a little bit,” Gros said. “We have to.”
Gros, citing health care reform scheduled for implementation next year, also said government mandates on employers have increased overhead costs and made it difficult for small-business men to turn a profit.
“It’s almost impossible for the small guys to make it,” he said.
Arthur Breaux started Sunrise Fried Chicken 40 years ago but has since divested himself from the business.
Breaux still owns the buildings at Barrow Street and Savanne Road. He said he’s asking for $2,000 per month in rent or $200,000 for the sale of the building at 1023 Barrow St.
“It was an excellent location,” Breaux said. “It made me a lot of money, and I enjoyed the customers that helped us out.”
Sunrise Fried Chicken’s Barrow Street diner has closed. Five other local locations were unaffected.
