Palmer’s Hot Chicken, the Lakewood haunt known for its Motherclucker sandwich and pimento-cheese grits, shut down its dining room on Sunday and is moving fully into ghost-kitchen territory. Owners Palmer and Amanda Fortune say the change lets their crew zero in on delivery apps, catering and the food truck while still popping up at fairs and rodeos. It also quietly closes the book on five years of in-person service at the corner of Mockingbird Lane and Abrams Road.
On Facebook and Instagram, the Fortunes stressed that Palmer’s isn’t bailing on Dallas, just changing how fans get their hot chicken, and urged regulars to keep ordering from the truck and delivery platforms, according to the Dallas Observer.
Why the pivot
Owner Palmer Fortune told The Dallas Morning News the Lakewood restaurant just was not profitable, and that leaning into a ghost kitchen felt like “a huge relief” for the team. Corporate catering and event gigs had become a steadier part of the business, he said, and dropping the costs that come with a full dining room simply made more sense. Rising expenses and thin margins on sit-down service ultimately pushed the owners to switch strategies.
Ghost kitchen and delivery details
According to the Dallas Observer, Palmer’s will now cook out of a ghost kitchen in Garland, with its menu available on DoorDash and Uber Eats while continuing to accept catering orders. The recipes and sauces that built the Palmer’s following are set to stay the same; the only real casualty is the dine-in experience. The crew also plans to keep rolling out festival favorites, including its Big Tex Choice Awards finalist poppers, at fairs and rodeos this year.
Where to find Palmer’s now
The Palmer’s food truck is currently serving at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo and regularly parks near Southern Methodist University for game days, The Dallas Morning News reports. Fans craving those signature sandwiches and pimento-cheese grits can also look for the team later this year at the State Fair of Texas and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo…