The owners of Lo-Lo’s Chicken & Waffles are taking over a vacant building in Chandler, located at 1040 N 54th St.
The new restaurant, which has yet to be announced, will move into the former home of Charleston’s on the northeast corner of I-10 and Ray Road. A representative from the company tells What Now Phoenix that while the owners recently signed the lease to take over the building, they still need to complete a remodel of the space. This means the new concept won’t be opening for another few months, likely not until early next year.
Whether or not this is a new location of Lo-Lo’s Chicken & Waffles or a new concept, it will come from a long line of restaurateurs. The original Lo-Lo’s was opened in 2002 by Larry “Lo-Lo” White and has since expanded to other parts of Phoenix, including Old Town Scottsdale and downtown Gilbert. White was inspired to open a restaurant by his grandmother, who had her own well-known Phoenix restaurant, Mrs. White’s Golden Rule Cafe. Now, the family of restaurant owners is getting ready to open another location, this time in Chandler.
“The heart and soul behind the Lo-Lo’s magic belongs to our founder, Larry “Lo-Lo” White,” according to the company’s website. “Of course, these days, he has the help of his family and extended family, who are all involved in the family biz. White, who, as soon as he could walk and talk, was put to work bussing tables in his grandmother’s soul food restaurant. The food, the people, the atmosphere…it was contagious, and it wasn’t long before Larry would start experimenting with his own recipes. Over the next ten years, Larry (“Lo-Lo” by that point) would tirelessly perfect his now-famous fried chicken and homemade waffle recipes. In 2002, the first 1,000 sq. ft. restaurant opened and started to gain traction in the community. Not bad for a guy who used to greet guests, run back to cook the food, and then don the chicken outfit and distribute flyers out front.”
