When closing a Churchs Chicken restaurant, what specific branded items must be removed from the premises?
Churchs_Chicken Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
| identification work is completed you must take several photographs of the Restaurant, which will verify the completion of the de-identification work and send them to your Regional Franchise Director. CAJUN may inspect a closed Restaurant to insure compliance and if necessary complete the de-identification process and pass these costs on to the Franchisee. |
|---|
| Remove all interior and exterior signage, including removal of all CHURCH'S TEXAS CHICKEN logos from the building, |
| interior and exterior menu boards (and translites), roof flags, cloud signs, star signs or other signs containing CHURCH'S |
| TEXAS CHICKEN branding elements, awnings, drive-thru canopies, tower panels, pole/monument signs, directional signs |
| and channel letter signs. The pole sign frame may be removed. |
| Remove all Department of Transportation, billboard, or other signage that would direct customers to the location. |
| Remove all CHURCH'S TEXAS CHICKEN P.O.P. elements and trademarks, decals, kids' merchandise, and any other |
| promotional material or merchandising items. |
| Board all windows and glass doors, if required under the lease and/or to prevent vandalism. |
| Notify suppliers to stop delivery of food and paper. |
| Remove all food and paper from the premises. |
| Photographs (Digital Preferred) sent to Regional Franchise Director. |
| Return all CHURCH'S TEXAS CHICKEN Operations Manuals, Equipment Manual, Marketing Plans, training materials |
| other materials marked "Property of CAJUN OPERATING COMPANY" to CAJUN headquarters in Atlanta, 980 Hammond |
| Drive NE, Suite 1100, Atlanta, GA 30328. |
| Please note that you should also consider taking the following typical closing actions: |
| Properly cap all exposed electrical wiring. |
| Ensure interior and exterior (including dumpsters) are free from trash and debris. |
| Notify the trash removal company of restaurant closure and request that the dumpsters either be removed or welded shut. |
| Contact pest control company and other service providers to discontinue service (e.g., landscaping, HVAC, etc.). |
| Clean exhaust hood. |
| Pump grease and sewer systems. |
| Ensure interior and exterior are clean. |
| Winterize plumbing (for Restaurant in cold weather areas). |
| Contact CO2 supplier to retrieve CO2 tank. |
| Remove POS system and all drive-thru timers. |
| Notify all utility companies that effective upon a certain date there will no longer be a CHURCH'S TEXAS CHICKEN |
| restaurant operating at this location and to terminate service. In some situations, it may be necessary to leave certain utilities |
| on in order to provide heat so that the pipes will not freeze or to comply with local ordinances (such as fire alarms). |
| Electric |
| Gas |
| Telephone |
| Water |
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 68–406)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Churchs Chicken's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a restaurant that is permanently closing must remove all branding to de-identify it as a Churchs Texas Chicken restaurant. This process must be completed immediately, but no later than seven business days after the restaurant ceases operation.
Specifically, franchisees must remove all interior and exterior signage, including Churchs Texas Chicken logos from the building. This includes interior and exterior menu boards (and translites), roof flags, cloud signs, star signs, awnings, drive-thru canopies, tower panels, pole/monument signs, directional signs and channel letter signs. The pole sign frame may be removed. Franchisees must also remove all Department of Transportation, billboard, or other signage that would direct customers to the location.
In addition, all Churchs Texas Chicken point-of-purchase (P.O.P.) elements and trademarks, decals, kids' merchandise, and any other promotional material or merchandising items must be removed. Franchisees must also return all Churchs Texas Chicken Operations Manuals, Equipment Manual, Marketing Plans, training materials and other materials marked "Property of CAJUN OPERATING COMPANY" to CAJUN headquarters in Atlanta.