Who is Prince’s Hot Chicken and what should we know about you?
Prince’s is the original Nashville hot chicken. It was created as a revenge meal but out of it—a legend was born.
The Birth of Nashville Hot Chicken
“They say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned . . . but some folks like a little heat, including Thornton Prince, the ‘father’ of Nashville’s hot chicken.
Even in the height of the Great Depression, Thornton Prince knew how to have a good time. He enjoyed the nightlife and had a well-earned reputation as being quite ‘the ladies’ man’. Of course, one person who was not too thrilled with that reputation was his steady girlfriend.
While we don’t know if Prince came home one night with a faint hint of perfume or a smudge of lipstick on his collar, we do know that after another one of Prince’s nights out, his scorned lover wanted revenge. And using Prince’s love of fried chicken as bait, she concocted the perfect recipe.
Instead of a lecture the next morning, Prince awoke to the sizzlin’ smell of fried chicken. The trap set, Prince’s jilted lover served up a plate of homemade fried chicken. Without noticing the devilish amount of peppers and spices she had sprinkled on the chicken, Prince dug in. Much to her dismay, Prince didn’t fall over weeping in pain. Nope, he asked for seconds, and, at that moment, the legend was born.”
What is unique about your business that makes you stand out?
Prince perfected the recipe for hot chicken and opened up a restaurant: Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack. Almost 100 years later, a lot has changed in Nashville. But not Prince’s. Thornton Prince’s great niece, Ms. Andre Prince Jeffries, is still serving the legendary dish that Nashvillians crave. In the last few years, the hot chicken trend has caught on like wildfire throughout the South, but Prince’s Hot Chicken is the original and remains the gold standard for hot chicken.
What’s the best thing about doing business in Middle Tennessee?
As the home of the original Nashville hot chicken, we get to introduce this delicacy to those visitors who come to the Greater Nashville Area, whether it’s to experience our great parks, historical landmarks, or ‘honky-tonk it’ downtown. Everyone has the opportunity to experience what makes Middle Tennessee special (including hot chicken!)
How do you stay involved in the community?
Prince’s Hot Chicken – Assembly Food Hall is actively involved in our community, from catering an election rally for future leaders at Tennessee State University to promoting events on our social media. We take pride in our community and encourage others to represent themselves with confidence and excellence.
What’s your best piece of advice for other business owners?
The best advice I can give is to never give up, and trust in others to have your best interest at heart. That doesn’t mean be naïve; it means to surround yourself with people who have the same goals as you, the same ethics, and the same drive, and the same trust.
