The new Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken location at 2161 E. Main St. in Spartanburg, which opened in late October in a renovated former Wendy’s building. Photo by Melissa Rhine.
A familiar flavor comes home: Lee’s returns to Spartanburg
Some restaurant openings introduce a new flavor to town. The return of Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken brings back one many Spartanburg families already know.
Since the restaurant opened, we’ve noticed drive-thru lines wrapping around the building and a parking lot that rarely seems to slow down. Judging by the crowds we’ve seen, Spartanburg was ready for another helping.
Our family certainly was.
We couldn’t attend the Oct. 29 grand opening, but we recently found our opportunity around 3 p.m. on a Sunday. The restaurant was still busy, though the crowd was more manageable than what we’d seen while passing by.
We ordered an eight-piece family meal with macaroni and cheese and green beans. For me, that first meal back tasted just like I remembered.
My family frequented Spartanburg’s previous Lee’s location years ago, so this visit came with some nostalgia. There’s something special about sharing a familiar meal with your children and remembering the times your own family gathered around it.
The former restaurant stood at Fernwood-Glendale and Peachshed roads before closing in 2014. Its return gives longtime customers an opportunity to revisit those memories while introducing another generation to the brand.
That enthusiasm extends beyond our family. Residents from all over the upstate are making the trip to the Eastside of Spartanburg for Lee’s and remembering its former location.
The new restaurant is owned and operated by Harris Mullis, who has led the Rock Hill Lee’s since 2010 and was named the company’s Operator of the Year in 2022.
“We are so excited to bring Lee’s back to Spartanburg and offer our same Famous Recipe like we always have,” Mullis said.
The renovated building gives the returning brand a fresh setting, while the menu centers on its familiar chicken and homestyle sides. Options include bone-in chicken, breast strips and spicy wings, with meals suited to individual diners or families bringing dinner home.
Lee’s describes its signature chicken as fresh, never frozen, honey-dipped, hand-breaded and pressure-cooked. Founded in Lima, Ohio, in 1966, the company is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. The Spartanburg team also plans to develop partnerships with local high schools.
For anyone planning a visit, the Spartanburg restaurant, located at 2161 E. Main St. in the former Wendy’s location, is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Catering and pickup options are listed at leesfamousrecipe.com, and the restaurant can be reached at 864-285-0405.
Our Sunday afternoon visit offered a welcome chance to enjoy a meal we’d missed. The chicken, the sides and the memories all felt familiar — and now Spartanburg has a chance to make Lee’s new memories of their own.
