SANDERS CAFE & MUSEUM

“IT ALL STARTED IN CORBIN”, Colonel Sanders’ original restaurant in Corbin, Kentucky, the birthplace of Kentucky Fried Chicken®. Carefully restored and placed on the National Register of Historical Places, you will see it as it appeared in the 1940’s. Experience eating delicious Kentucky Fried Chicken® in the Colonel’s dining room and take in his innovative open-kitchen and model motel room. Also view the exhibits featuring the Colonel’s artifacts and memorabilia from the early days of KFC®.

COLONEL SANDERS

Colonel Harland David Sanders  (September 9, 1890 – December 16, 1980) was an American businessman, best known for founding fast food chicken restaurant chain Kentucky Fried Chicken® (also known as KFC®) and later acting as the company's brand ambassador and symbol. His name and image are still symbols of the company. The title 'Colonel' was honorary – a Kentucky Colonel – not the military rank.

Sanders held a number of jobs in his early life, such as steam engine stoker, insurance salesman and filling station operator. He began selling fried chicken from his roadside restaurant in North Corbin, Kentucky, during the Great Depression. During that time Sanders developed his "Secret Recipe" and his patented method of cooking chicken in a pressure fryer. Sanders recognized the potential of the restaurant franchising concept, and the first KFC franchise opened in South Salt Lake, Utah in 1952. When his original restaurant closed, he devoted himself full-time to franchising his fried chicken throughout the country.

"I've only had two rules. Do all you can and do it the best you can. It's the only way you ever get that feeling of accomplishing something."

- Colonel Sanders

MUSEUM

The Sanders Cafe & Museum was renovated and reopened in the fall of 1990 as a museum. A modern KFC® kitchen was also built adjacent to the cafe on some of the former motel land and the two structures attached by an entrance lobby that contains many of the smaller museum displays. The model motel room was restored to its original state as part of the renovation and modern restrooms added to the back of the original structure. While at the museum, visitors can tour the office of Harland Sanders, see the kitchen where Sanders developed the KFC® secret formula, and view KFC® memorabilia.

KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN

KFC® is the world’s most popular chicken restaurant chain, specializing in our famous Original Recipe® fried chicken. It all started with one cook who created a finger lickin’ good recipe more than 75 years ago, a list of secret herbs and spices scratched out on the back of the door to his kitchen. That cook was Colonel Harland Sanders, of course, and today we still follow his formula for success, with real cooks breading and freshly preparing our delicious chicken by hand in more than 20,000 restaurants in more than 125 countries.

After more than 75 years of success and innovation, we look forward to serving you and your family our world famous recipes for years to come!

To learn more about KFC in the US, please visit kfc.com.

the kfc foundation®

The KFC® family has a rich history of generosity inspired by Colonel Harland Sanders himself. It started with a hitchhiker who happened to be a college student. The Colonel gave him a ride and a full scholarship.

That act of kindness inspired the KFC Foundation, which has since provided $20 million to more than 6,400 students and KFC Restaurant employees, assisting them in getting an education, in crisis situations and with personal finance.

Our charitable programs are made possible through the ongoing support of our many franchisees and KFC Corporation.

For more information please visit kfcfoundation.org.

CAREER GROWTH

KFC® is more than a place to work, it’s a place to grow! Through our training programs, coaching and development experiences, we offer career growth through a variety of opportunities. Many of our Managers started as Team Members and grew into Restaurant Management roles and above! Our training programs are award winning and you can even receive college credit for completing our restaurant training!

For Career Opportunities please visit KFC Careers.

the jrn STORY

Kentucky Fried Chicken® franchise partners, JRN, Inc., are making a significant investment to renovate and expand the famous Sanders Café KFC located in Corbin, Ky. Major construction will begin this week to update and expand the restaurant and museum, transforming the guest experience for its visitors from all over the world.

While the restaurant transformation is expected to take more than nine months, the restaurant plans to remain open throughout construction.

Sanders Café, located at 688 Hwy 25 in Corbin, is the birthplace of KFC’s Original Recipe®. It is where KFC’s founder, Colonel Harland Sanders, perfected his secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices more than 75 years ago. That recipe is still served today in KFCs everywhere.

Originally established in 1937 as a gas station along U.S. Route 25, Sanders Court eventually expanded to include a motel and café where the Colonel offered guests a hot meal and a place to rest along their journey.

KFC franchisees Linda and John R. Neal purchased the Corbin KFC in 1973, and following a renovation, they reopened it as the Harland Sanders Café and Museum on Sept. 9, 1990, which would have been the Colonel’s 100th birthday.

The restaurant continues to be owned and operated by JRN, Inc., headquartered in Columbia, Tenn. Despite the passing of John R. Neal, JRN remains a family-operated company with his sons becoming second-generation KFC franchisees.

“We grew up in the KFC business and to be the caretaker of the place where it all began is truly special,” said Tyrone Neal, president, JRN, Inc. “We welcome thousands of visitors from all over the world to Corbin each year to see the birthplace of the Secret Recipe, and we want them to have a KFC experience like none other. That’s what this renovation is all about.”

Today, the restaurant features the original Sanders Café dining room, showcases a model of the Colonel’s original kitchen and a replica hotel room. Those elements will keep their historical integrity and receive some updates. Renovation plans also consist of a 3,000 square foot addition, which includes a dining area expansion that will offer seating for up to 132 guests.

Plans for the restaurant’s renovation were entirely custom created to keep the historical integrity of the location while adding additional square footage and expanding memorabilia displays that highlight the history of the place and the KFC brand.

Though the redesign is unique to this location, some design elements are drawn from KFC’s signature American Showman design aesthetic, which pays tribute to Colonel Sanders.

Some key elements featured in the interior of the restaurant will include:

• Harland’s Herb and Spice room that celebrates Colonel Sanders signature World Famous Original Recipe Chicken and secret blend of 11 herbs and spices

• A historical KFC timeline that celebrates the legacy of Colonel Sanders to be featured in an expanded museum space

• Model of Sanders Café’s original kitchen and a hotel room

• A retail area where guests can purchase souvenirs to commemorate their visit to the Sanders Café

In 2007, JRN purchased the Colonel’s former home and property, which is adjacent to the restaurant and is also undergoing renovations.

“The Neals have been incredible partners and their commitment to maintaining the Harland Sanders Café and Museum in Corbin as a historical landmark is unwavering,” says Brian Cahoe, chief development officer, KFC U.S. “This renovation will give visitors from all over the world an incredible KFC experience, while preserving the historic integrity of the location. We are grateful to the Neals for their vision and for their dedication to preserving the place where it all began.”

The Sanders Café was owned and operated by Colonel Sanders from 1940-1956 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990, which also marks the year when it was last renovated.

LOCATION & HOURS