Church's Chicken Works To Re-Open Tulsa, OKC Restaurants

Church’s Chicken says it's working to re-open 15 restaurants in Tulsa and Oklahoma City as soon as possible.

The company says it requested a court-appointed receiver to re-open the 15 restaurants owned by the Reciprocity Restaurant Group and the request was granted. The Oklahoma Tax Commission closed the stores two weeks ago due to non-payment of state sales tax.

The company said the Atlanta-based franchisor is making sure all displaced employees receive payment for hours worked up until the restaurants were closed and that those checks will be delivered Monday. November 16, 2015.

Church’s Chicken corporate said it took the unprecedented steps to get the restaurants re-opened quickly to help employees and customers.  “This was a collective effort to find a speedy resolution for a very sad and difficult situation,” said Joe Christina, Executive Vice President of U.S. Operations. “We look forward to getting back to the business of serving our great tasting chicken and biscuits.”

Restaurant managers said most of their employees told them they want to return to their jobs if the restaurants could open quickly. The company gave cash to the managers to help employees 

11/8/2015: Related Story: Tulsa Police Hope To Locate Missing Businessman

Police said the man who owns the restaurants, Lyndon Johnson, 54, has disappeared.

“While we continue to be concerned by the disappearance of Mr. Lyndon Johnson, we are solely focused on getting these restaurants operational again.  The longer these units are closed, the greater the harm to displaced employees and the community,” Christina said. 

The following locations were closed:

1235 N SANTA FE AVE
Moore OK, 73160

1012 SW 59TH ST
Oklahoma City, OK, 73109

4438 NW 10TH ST
Oklahoma City, OK 73107

5034 N PEORIA AVE
Tulsa, OK 74126

3036 S GARNETT RD
Tulsa, OK 74129

543 SW 29TH ST
Oklahoma City, OK 73106

9010 NE 23RD ST
Midwest City, OK 73141

1424 NE 23RD ST
Oklahoma City, OK 73111

4428 SE 44TH ST
Oklahoma City, OK 73135

2555 E PINE ST
Tulsa, OK 74110

415 S ELM PL
Broken Arrow, OK 74012

301 W 2ND ST
Sand Springs, OK 74063

11618 E 86TH ST N
Owasso, OK 74055

1320 E LINDSEY ST
Norman, OK 73071

2 N MISSION ST
Sapulpa, OK 74066