Harold’s brings ‘energy’ to downtown Moline

“Everything we make here is made with love.” That’s the word from Josiah Blanton, the 23-year-old owner of the new Harold’s Chicken Sports Bar in downtown Moline at 425 15th St. Mr. Blanton and his restaurant/sports bar were the center of attention Wednesday afternoon, June 25, for a grand opening ceremony for the new business. […]

“Everything we make here is made with love.” That’s the word from Josiah Blanton, the 23-year-old owner of the new Harold’s Chicken Sports Bar in downtown Moline at 425 15th St. Mr. Blanton and his restaurant/sports bar were the center of attention Wednesday afternoon, June 25, for a grand opening ceremony for the new business. That ceremony, which attracted about 75 people from the business community, featured a ribbon cutting and words of welcome and praise for the new venture. “It’s wonderful to see the energy you are creating. … We try our best to create opportunities for businesses in Moline,” Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati said.

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That energy was apparent throughout the ceremony. Just after the ribbon cutting, several members of the crowd started shouting “You did it. You did it” to Mr. Blanton. The business owner turned to the crowd and shouted back “No, you did it.” That energy may carry over into the next few days. Harold’s workers are calling this Friday through Sunday (June 27-29) “Grand Opening Weekend.” Harold’s will be open from 11 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday. “There’s been so much buzz around this place,” said Alvaro Macias, a Moline City Council member, at the ceremony. Mr. Blanton told the crowd at the ceremony that there were challenges in getting the restaurant opened, but praised the City of Moline for its help with the project. Here are some of the details about the business and location.

• Building history: The building at 425 15th St. was built in 1897. It was originally a dry goods store, and later became a clothing shop, Walgreen’s drug store, an insurance agency, and a bar and restaurant beginning in the 1990s, according to Kirk Marske, Moline Centre Program director, who was among the crowd.
• Harold’s history: The first Harold’s Chicken opened in 1950, and was started by Harold Pierce. “What set Harold's Chicken Shack apart was its simple yet flavorful recipe — crispy fried chicken served with a signature mild or spicy sauce, often accompanied by white bread and fries,” according to information from the company. A portrait of Mr. Pierce is now hanging in the new Moline business.
• The new Harold’s: The Moline business is the 70th store in the Harold’s franchise history. It has about 45 employees. The interior of the new business has many large-screen TVs, usually showing sporting events; a bar area; and red brick walls.
• The new owner: Mr. Blanton, who is the youngest franchisee in Harold’s history, had already built four successful businesses by the time he was 20. “Growing up in Chicago, Josiah faced the harsh realities of urban life head-on. Despite not having seen his father since age 10 and watching his mother struggle to make ends meet, he made a conscious decision to choose a different path,” according to information from the company.
• Menu: Some menu items include chicken, wings, chicken sandwiches, tenders, chicken and waffles, catfish, Harold’s signature sauces, honey biscuits and much more.

Shortly after Wednesday’s ceremony, Mr. Blanton said he believes Harold’s menu items, fresh ingredients and service will set his business apart from the many other chicken-themed restaurants in the region. He told the crowd that he’s happy to be in Moline and looks forward to serving good food to the community.  “I built this for the Quad Cities,” he added.