This is the first of four posts this week in which I’m going to let the pictures do almost all of the talking. This isn’t a format change, just an opportunity to do things a little different once in a while, and show off some finds outside of our traditional standards of “article about a restaurant with two photos.”
While Marie and the children were on the island, I took a drive down Georgia’s western border. I stopped along the way in Newnan, where the downtown courthouse square – home of a very good bookstore called Scott’s – is being brightened by a spectacular display of colorful painted horses. The sponsorship of each horse, and the subsequent funds generated by their auction in a few months, is being used to finance a planned children’s museum in Coweta County.
The Redneck Gourmet has been on my to-visit list for some time, but it was still breakfast when I was there, and I had meals ahead of me planned, and so I’ll come by some other time.
I love the name of this store. It’s like I was preplanning for a return visit with Marie soon: a restaurant that I want to try, a chocolate shop that she’ll enjoy, and a bookstore. Game, set and match, really.
But the big find was this curious old fast food place, Wishbone Fried Chicken. There are only two locations presently open, in Newnan and in Tifton, although there was a third in Augusta. I am not sure where any more were. It really has the look of the 1970s about it, doesn’t it? I’m taken by those big, red, plastic umbrellas over the concrete picnic tables. Krystal used to have those at some of their stores in the late 1970s as well. Was this once a Krystal that Wishbone took over? Do you have any additional information about this chain? Leave us a comment or drop us an email.
The road next took me to LaGrange for lunch. More about that tomorrow, and the next photo-post on Tuesday.
You can see all the restaurants that we have visited for our blog on this map, with links back to the original blog posts. It’s terrific for anybody planning a road trip through our area!
Marie, Let's Eat! 
I remember when this chain opened in the Metro Atlanta area in the late 60’s early 70’s. Most were store front types until the agreement with Krystal. It was the second Fried Chicken Chain to open (after KFC) but before Church’s, Granny’s/Mrs Winners, Popeye , etc.
I thought that I recognized those umbrellas! Could you tell us more about that agreement, George, and where any of their stores were located?
Hello I was glad to see the old wishbone sign. I used to work at the chain back in the late 60’s and 70’s in Gainesville,Florida. We had three stores. The food was good then. The company started in Georiga. The company name was munford . The original oweners of 7-11 stores. Most of the stores went out of business in the 1970’s in Gainesville, Fla. Been looking for the chicken joint. I will be making a trip to Georgia soon and I will be looking for the best fried chicken that ever was cooked. Thanks for finding the old place.
Willie, I’m glad that we were able to help. I hope that Wishbone is still as good as you remember it. Thanks for visiting!
When I was young (born 1967) there was a Wishbone chicken restaurant in Athens, as well. It closed before the end of the 1970s. I used to remember where it was, but haven’t lived there in 25+ years now.
Thanks for the additional information!