Chicken Broil — 68 and counting!

The long line of those waiting for their delicious chicken dinners stretched all the way down Duncan Street, and continued on Hibbard. Photo courtesy of Craig Paxton.

They may have had a year off in 2020 due to the pandemic, but the Manchester Chicken Broil crew did not miss a beat. They pulled off the 68th annual broil in their traditional style with lots of new twists.

Everyone still received one-half of a butter-basted chicken slowly broiled over hot coals, just as Dr. Howard Zindell started it in 1954. The newly designed boxes still contained the Broil's famous savory coleslaw, a bag of Better Made chips, radishes, a roll with butter, and a bottled water.

Michael Tindall, outgoing chair after 17 years at the helm, reported that a total of 6,675 dinners were sold. The remaining chicken halves are sold by the piece at the end of the evening.

"It was a great send-off," Tindall commented. "The number of dinners sold was somewhat lower than in previous years but we are proud of this accomplishment."

The Chicken Broil expects to be able to support the projects that it has committed to.

A huge thanks to this year's sponsors, who for the first time ever are listed as advertisers on the famously-upgraded white boxes! Sponsors for 2021 include Comerica Bank, Napoleon Lawn and Leisure, Manchester AG Parts, Keller Williams Realty, Bridgewater General Store, Edward Jones, State Farm, American 1 Credit Union, Polly’s, R.D. Kleinschmidt, Bollinger Sanitation and Excavating, Garden Mill, Secret Crisis Comics, Reardon Realty, and Eineder Funeral Homes (Brooklyn & Manchester Chapels).

A perfect Chicken Broil dinner (Photo courtesy Manchester Chicken Broil).

Ron Mann has worked at every Chicken Broil since he was 11 years old (Photo courtesy Manchester Chicken Broil).

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.