Mystery restaurant with frying pan-shaped sign

[Andrew T.]

I photographed this abandoned restaurant is on U.S. 52 in Bluewell, West Virginia during my final trip there in the spring of 2013. The most notable feature is a gigantic, angled signpost seemingly shaped like a frying pan:

Does anyone recognize what this once was?

[Groceteria]

Golden Skillet Fried Chicken. Originally connected with the Thalhimer's Department Store family, oddly enough. I've seen two still in operation, one in Danville VA and one in Portsmouth VA. Pressed for time now. More later.

[Clifton]

Agreed. I used to eat at Golden Skillets in various cities in Va back in the late 70s/early 80s.

[jleyerle]

Golden Skillet is it. Was centered on Richmond, VA. I was a mystery shopper for KFC in the 1987-1989 timeframe, and periodically went to the Tidewater/Richmond area. There were a couple around Richmond at the time. If memory serves, they used a pressure fryer (similar to KFC Original Recipe or Lees' Famous Recipe).