Chick-A-Dee in Turner closes

[Loren Coleman]

(Sure, the food may have been terrible, but the memories are good of stopping there, as I traveled up and down Rt. 4, on my way to "expeditions" in the Rangeley area. ~ Loren)

The Chick-A-Dee Restaurant on Route 4, which has specialized in fried seafood for 77 years, has closed.

A sign on the outside of the restaurant Wednesday afternoon said: "We are sorry to say we have been forced to close our doors due (to) the tough time in this economy. We would like to thank all of you for your patronage."

Attempts to reach owner William Hird Sr. or to get information from his sons, William Jr. or Greg, who at one time operated the restaurant with their father, were unsuccessful.

An employee at the Chick-A-Dee Restaurant in Lewiston, owned by William Hird Jr., confirmed the Turner establishment was closed but deferred comment to Hird Sr., who was not available.

The popular restaurant was opened in 1935 by Francis Donovan. Hird Sr. and his wife, Anne, bought it in the early 1970s. A fire destroyed the restaurant in June 1991, but the family rebuilt and expanded the building, reopening in October of that year.

<http://www.sunjournal.com/news/lewiston-auburn/2012/05/03/chick-dee-restaurant-turner-closes-after-77-years/1190101#>