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| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | 1984; 41 years ago (1984) inOntario, California,United States |
| Founder | Albert Okura |
| Headquarters | , |
Number of locations | 25 restaurants (2023) |
Area served | Southern California |
Key people | Albert OkuraFounder |
| Products | Rotisseriechicken |
Juan Pollo is aMexican-stylerotisserie chicken restaurant chain headquartered in San Bernardino, California founded in 1984 byAlbert Okura. Its restaurants are located mostly in theInland Empire region ofSouthern California, with other locations inRiverside,San Bernardino andOrange counties.
Okura, originally a native ofWilmington, California, held a number of managerial positions infast-food restaurants in the area forBurger King andDel Taco in the '70s and '80s. While serving as the manager for a Del Taco inCarson, California in 1981, anEl Pollo Loco opened opposite of his restaurant.[1]
He was impressed by the chain's char-broiled chicken and the simplicity of its operations. As he investigated what his options were to opening a chicken char-broiled restaurant, he met Armando Parra, who mentioned his area ofChihuahua,Mexico had many rotisserie style chicken restaurants.[2]
Okura located a restaurant location inOntario, California but Parra believed the location was too small for char-broiled but suggested using rotisserie cooking instead.[1][2] Okura changed his plans to rotisserie chicken and opened the first Juan Pollo in January 1984. Sales for the first day were $165, but Okura refined the operations of the restaurant, including what chicken sizes worked best, cooking time and flame temperature.[3]
Juan Pollo's second location opened in San Bernardino in January 1986. The restaurant also received a favorable review from Norman Baffry, a food critic forThe San Bernardino Sun, which increased the popularity of the two restaurants.[2]
Okura trained his hourly employees to become future Juan Pollo owner/operators, and most of the restaurants are owned by former employees of the chain.[4]
In 1998, Okura purchased the location of the originalMcDonald's, opened in 1948, for $135,000 in a foreclosure sale.[5][6]
Okura relocated his corporate offices to the location, and opened an unofficial McDonald's museum on the site. Okura refers to the location as the "historic site of the original McDonald's," due to legal issues with McDonald's. Okura didn't plan to open the museum; it was a news item incorrectly stating that he was planning on opening a museum which gave him the idea.[7]
Juan Pollo has become involved with the revival ofRoute 66, hosting its own annual Veteran's Day Parade and Car Show in front of the unofficial McDonald's Museum. Juan Pollo also has been one of the main toy contributors for the annual Christmas toy give away at the Route 66 park at La Placita on Mt. Vernon Avenue in San Bernardino.[8][9]
Okura also purchased the town ofAmboy, California on Route 66 in 2005 for $425,000. Okura worked to improve the town, with plans to add a museum and making it a destination for those who are interested in Route 66.[10][11]
