André Prince and Tamara Kelly
Hot Chicken Royalty
André Prince Jeffries and Tamara Kelly
Anyone hungry for hot chicken? We know we are after this delicious conversation with Ms. André Prince Jeffries and Tamara Kelly of Prince’s Hot Chicken royalty.
The Prince family has been serving hot chicken for 80 years, and Ms. André continues the family tradition at Prince’s Hot Chicken. Ms. André’s fun-loving spirit and passion for hot chicken has propelled her uncle’s chicken shack into what it is today while picking up quite a few awards along the way. In 2013, they were named an American Classic by the James Beard Foundation Awards. Gourmet magazine named it as one of Nashville’s four “don’t-miss dining experiences”, and they were also in episodes on the network’s Bizarre Foods America and Man v. Food Nation.
Shaping the cultural significance of Nashville and hot chicken, Ms. André has maintained the southern family charm within the business which has kept customers and even presidents coming back for more.
Tamara Kelly is an energetic and widely experienced hospitality manager. With more than 30 years in the industry and experience with major brands, she has a wealth of operational knowledge to pull from. As part of the core team for Prince’s Hot Chicken – Assembly Food Hall, she helps create a welcoming environment that cultivates the ultimate guest experience and continues to implement the same family charm that leaves an impression on all guests.
How long have you been serving up chicken at Prince’s?
“I took over in 1980 at the suggestion of my mother…They were making plans for me because my mother was already suffering with breast cancer in the hospital,” Ms. André says, “It was renamed when I took over because I wanted the family to get the recognition. Prince is the family name. I renamed it from Barbecue Chicken Shack because that’s what my Uncle had. Great Uncle Thornton Prince had named it.”
And the name Prince’s Hot Chicken was born–a name Nashville residents know and love.
Why do you think hot chicken is so popular around the world now?
Former Nashville Mayor Purcell often referred to Prince’s as his second office. His love for Prince’s Hot Chicken led him to creating the first Hot Chicken Festival in 2007, giving hot chicken a spotlight in Nashville and creating a new craze for those seeking a Southern experience.
“I had a couple two weeks ago that came straight from London, two children in tow, and their first stop was Prince’s. Suitcases dragging behind, kids and all. We get to talking and I think it’s just that renowned factor, especially being Prince’s. You’re from across the pond. You come to Nashville, and that’s your first stop,” Tamara says.
Who are some of the famous people who have come into Prince’s and love that recipe?
“Shaquille O’Neal has been there several times, but I told him he was such a wimp ‘cause he eats it plain,” Ms. André laughs, “He can’t stand anything hot. When he comes, he brings his entourage, and the last time he was there, he fed everybody. Didn’t let anybody know. He fed everybody that came through the doors for two hours. Paid for it.”
“We had plenty of famous people–Obama even. The President sent his secret service down, which I appreciate, to get the chicken…People just totally go wild, and I appreciate that.”
What has this business meant? What did that exposure and all of that mean to the black community in Nashville?
“As mama said, people eat, and we all have that in common. And being in the hood, it’s always been in the hood. Always. And from the beginning, this is the first time that we’ve ever ventured with the opening on Nolensville Road. We’ve been across tracks. People had been requesting for us to come to Antioch for a long, long, long time. Have mercy,” Ms. André says.
“They’d still be sitting, standing up there waiting on their chicken, discussing their politics or whatever. Have mercy. It was a great place to discuss and just express your opinion.”
You recently were entered into the Hall of Fame here at the Entrepreneur Center. What did that mean to you?
“It’s just so gratifying. I mean, all of this acknowledgement, you can’t believe it. I asked somebody the other night when I was down there I said, ‘Am I dead?’ You get your flowers when you die. Most people do. But it is totally spectacular. I recently visited New Orleans with the Fried Chicken Festival, having been awarded a plaque. I couldn’t believe it,” André expresses, “but bills still go on.”
What’s next for the brand?
“Well, our next goal, of course, is to relocate to Jefferson Street where we started. That was the first place my Great-Uncle Thornton Prince acquired to sell the food,” Ms. André expresses, “and that would totally complete me. I want to go back to where it started.”
It’s clear for Ms. André that honoring the family within this business is a big priority, and for Tamara, it’s keeping that a priority even in different locations.
“For me, being a manager for the Fifth and Broad, it is a blessing because I get to be a part of something that she cultivated and developed. And the goal is to just keep that brand and the homeliness of it, the family environment of it intact. That’s my focus every day. I get out there, talk to people every day, introduce myself because that’s a part of the experience,” Tamara adds.
“We’re all consumers, and as consumers, we want to feel a part of something. We wanna feel valued when we go in. And I want them to feel that. Whether it’s at the shack, whether it’s on the truck, whether it’s at the park, I’m very emotional about it because I’m passionate about it because it’s been going on so long. I want that stability and everybody to know that, when they come to Prince’s, it’s like sitting down at grandma’s table.That’s what I feel about it. So I feel blessed and grateful every day.”
Whether you’re a Nashville native or just passing through, be sure to grab a plate of hot chicken from Prince’s and experience Nashville’s prized meal. And, if you’re lucky, Shaq might just pay for it for you too!
Resources and Links
Prince’s Hot Chicken website
