Barnesville KFC/A&W Is No More

(Bruce Yarnall photo)

This photo at the Barnesville Kentucky Fried Chicken/ A & W Root Beer was taken this past week just before the restaurant closed. All signage has now been removed.   

The fast-food KFC/A & W Restaurant located at the intersection of East Main, Bethesda Street Extension and Railroad Street closed Monday, December 23. The franchise business was opened in June 2002 by locally owned Jefferis Foods, LLC, according to a spokesperson this week.

While the local business was doing quite well, the national firm has struggled this past year.  Same-store sales turned negative this year, including a 5% decline last year. System sales are down 7% in the first half of the year. This came after the brand closed more than 3% of its restaurants last year, according to a news report in August.  

Facing a company mandated interior redecoration/remodeling program that would cost in the six figure range, Jefferis Foods decided to part ways with the national firm opting instead to lease the structure to another food operator.

For weeks, social media postings have identified a regional ethic restaurant operator as the new lessee.  Barnesville Area News has reached out to that firm for confirmation but have not received a response.  Stay tuned as this story develops.