The Yogi Bear Chicken Restaurant History Almost Nobody Knows

In South Carolina, fried chicken is a way of life, but the Yogi Bear chicken restaurant history is easily the strangest piece of fast-food lore in the Palmetto State. Most people don't realize that a cartoon bear once fronted a booming regional chain—or that the very last remaining location in the country is still serving customers right here in South Carolina.

More than 50 years after its doors first opened, the story of this iconic brand involves a rejected Hollywood pitch, a million-dollar corporate buyout, and a single town keeping a piece of Americana alive.

Yogi Bear Chicken Timeline at a Glance

• Late 1960s: Gene Broome creates the honey-flavored tenderizer recipe.
• 1968: The first location opens in Myrtle Beach, SC; Hardee’s buys the licensing rights for $1 million later that year.
• 1970s–1990s: Lack of corporate support forces mass closures across the Carolinas.
• Present Day: The Hartsville, SC spot remains the sole surviving location.

The Bizarre Origin: How a Cartoon Bear Became a Fast Food Icon

In the late 1960s, Columbia restaurateur Gene Broome developed a honey-flavored tenderizer for fried chicken. His business partner, Roy Davis, later told The Post and Courier it was "a chemical type thing that tenderized the chicken and had a honey taste." Broome knew the recipe alone wouldn't sell the restaurant. Celebrity-branded spots were everywhere in the '60s, so he went looking for a famous face.

He reportedly pitched Jackie Gleason first and got turned down. He landed on Yogi Bear instead, licensing the cartoon character and his Jellystone Park friends from Hanna-Barbera. The first location opened in Myrtle Beach, and it took off. Locations followed across the Carolinas, each one with a roadside sign of a grinning Yogi holding a drumstick.

The $1 Million Hardee's Deal That Wiped Out the Chain

The chain's early success caught the attention of Hardee's, which paid Broome and his partners $1 million in 1968 (about $9.2 million today) to take over the chain's licensing and operations. But Hardee's wanted the honey-flavored recipe, not a fried chicken restaurant business to run. The branded locations received little support afterward, and they began closing one by one throughout the 1970s, '80s, and '90s.

By the time the dust settled, only the Hartsville location was still standing. It's been there since the late 1960s, and it hasn't stopped.

What's Still on the Menu

The Hartsville location still runs the original naming system: a two-piece Boo-Boo Basket, a three-piece Cindy Bear Basket, a nine-piece Picnic Basket ("pic-a-nic," the way Yogi would say it), and a 21-piece Jellystone Basket for a crowd. Beyond the honey-fried chicken itself, the menu includes fried gizzards and livers, plus fried catfish, shrimp, and flounder for anyone who wants seafood instead. Save room for dessert, and don't skip a photo next to the sign out front. It's a stop worth pairing with a broader visit to Hartsville, as this small town in South Carolina is perfect for a family getaway with plenty of history and outdoor adventures."

Plan Your Visit to Yogi Bear's Honey Fried Chicken

Yogi Bear's Honey Fried Chicken is open seven days a week from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Confirm hours via the restaurant's Facebook page before making a special trip, especially around holidays. It's a stop worth pairing with a broader visit to Hartsville, which has plenty else going on beyond the chicken.

Also, if you are planning a full food tour of Darlington County, you can also grab an incredible country meal at Pam's Restaurant in Hartsville, SC, just a few minutes down the road.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it called Yogi Bear's Honey Fried Chicken? Founder Gene Broome licensed the Yogi Bear cartoon character from Hanna-Barbera in the late 1960s after comedian Jackie Gleason turned down a similar pitch. The restaurant kept the name and the Jellystone Park theming.

How many Yogi Bear Honey Fried Chicken locations are left? One. The Hartsville, South Carolina location is the sole survivor of a chain that once had locations across the Carolinas and beyond.

When did Yogi Bear Honey Fried Chicken open? The first location opened in Myrtle Beach in the late 1960s. Hardee's bought the chain's licensing rights in 1968, and most locations had closed by the late 1990s.

Did you know about this fascinating piece of Yogi Bear chicken restaurant history? Keep the food exploration going by checking out the best comfort food in South Carolina.