From the Ashes: A Bryan Staple Makes its Long-Awaited Return
On April 3, 2022, just after 5 p.m.,
a driver made a discovery that would soon spread shocking news to the Bryan-College Station community and Aggies everywhere:
A beloved Bryan institution, The Chicken Oil Company, had caught fire.
Within minutes of the first report, firefighters and other first responders from both Bryan and College Station raced to the scene to battle the blaze. No injuries were reported and the fire was controlled within an hour of dispatch to prevent a total loss, but the damage was extensive.
Cortney Phillips, director of operations for Dixie Chicken, Inc., the parent company of the Chicken Oil Co., was first alerted by her husband, a fire captain with the City of College Station.
“I thought he was joking, but he said ‘this is not a joke’,” Phillips said. “Initially, the response was confusion and panic. We didn’t know how bad the damage was.”
A Bryan Fire Dept. truck parks in front of the Chicken Oil Co. after a fire was reported on April 3, 2022. Image courtesy of The Chicken Oil Co. on Facebook.
According to initial reports, 15-20% of the structure, including the kitchen, was destroyed and smoke damage was present throughout the entire building. As the details of the fire began to emerge, thousands of fans expressed their support and enthusiasm for a place that, to them, was far more than a restaurant.
Originally built as a gas station in 1977, the Chicken Oil Co. was the follow-up project to the wildly successful Dixie Chicken, a historic entity in its own right across the street from Texas A&M. Known for classic comfort staples like burgers, chicken fried steak, and ice-cold beer, the Chicken Oil has played host to countless first dates, first drinks, roommate reunions, rehearsal dinners, and any other celebration imaginable.
To lose something so vital to the story of Bryan would be unthinkable, but even in the days immediately
following the fire, it was clear the road to recovery would be long.
When Jennifer Ganter and Katy Jackson, the co-owners of Dixie Chicken, Inc. and daughters of co-founder Don Ganter, were assessing what to do next, it felt like just another in a long line of obstacles in the way of success in a difficult business.
“We didn’t have very many options,” Jackson said when describing the company’s mindset in the immediate aftermath of the fire. “We had just come off of COVID and that drained everything we had for resources. Then, the roof collapse at the [Dixie] Chicken enhanced that. So, our options were very, very
limited.”
Many questions remained in the ensuing weeks and months. It was unclear if the iconic wooden structure would require complete demolition. Additionally, the antique signs, décor, and mounted taxidermy that adorned the walls and gave the space a classic feel were in jeopardy due to the smoke damage.
The list of reasons to give up was long, but the resolve to bring back a staple that Aggies and Brazos Valley residents have enjoyed for generations never wavered.
“I don’t think we ever doubted that we wanted to try [to reopen],” Phillips said. “I feel like we always knew if it was possible, we were going to do it right.”
“I always knew we would reopen,” Ganter added. “I just didn’t think it would take this long.”
It was a long wait, indeed. The gap between the fire and welcoming customers back to the corner of South College Ave. and Old College Rd. spanned over three years and three months – almost 1200 days. Those customers waited patiently before eagerly returning, and even answered a call to help cross the finish line.
Back in March, the restaurant put out a call to supporters on social media to help replace the animal mounts that could not be saved due to smoke damage. According to Tina Duncan, Co-Owner of Twinz Co. Marketing and the “brand protector” of the Chicken Oil, the response was tremendous.
“The [support] has been amazing. I’m not saying hundreds, I’m saying thousands of responses,” Duncan said. “They came with very inspiring stories about how much they care about the Chicken Oil because they have stories and memories with their moms or future husbands or grandkids. Those stories inspired me.”
Those generous donors, along with countless other fans, now have a treasured piece of community history available to them once again. And while there are some differences in the counter service area, new
doors at the entrance, and some upgrades to the experience – like a covered outdoor seating area with a bar and accessibility upgrades – the feeling you get when you step inside is the same as it always has been.
The newly-rebuilt exterior of the Chicken Oil features a brand new deck for outdoor seating and private events. Image courtesy Twinz Co. Marketing.