A Houston legend
The king of chicken, Frenchy's Percy Creuzot, dies
- Sallie and Percy Creuzot
- A young Creuzot
It was way back in 1969 that Percy Creuzot Jr., a New Orleans native known as Frenchy, opened Frenchy's Po'boys on Scott Street with his wife, Sallie.
But it wasn't until he added a distinctive fried chicken to the Southern Creole menu — aiming to compete with the Church's Chicken across the street — that Frenchy's took off.
Forty years later, Frenchy's Chicken is a Houston landmark, with locations spread across the city, and Creole cuisine has taken hold in the Bayou City. It's all a testament to the hard work and business savvy of Creuzot, who died on Sunday.
Frenchy is survived by his wife Sallie, son Percy III, who now runs the family business, daughter Angela and several grandchildren.
Interviewed last year for Frenchy's 40th anniversary, Creuzot said, "I think the secret is tenacity, just staying with it and making sure you did the best that you could do every day."
Two Houston restaurant pioneers have died in less than a week now — with Kanomwan owner Darawan Charoenrat passing a few days before Creuzot.