One of Kentucky’s most iconic restaurants is for sale, along with KFC memorabilia

A big juicy piece of Kentucky history could be yours, fried chicken lovers.

The Claudia Sanders Dinner House, the restaurant that Colonel Sanders (yes, that Colonel Sanders that started Kentucky Fried Chicken) built for his wife Claudia is for sale.

The restaurant, a staple of Shelbyville for decades, is known for its famous yeast rolls, massive buffet, creamed spinach, pies and, of course, fried chicken. So much so that politicians including U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell have been spotted dining there.

The listing, which is being handled by Six Degrees Real Estate, does not include a sale price. Morgan Hancock, the listing agent, said that potential buyers will have to sign a non-disclosure agreement and show proof of at least $5 million cash on hand.

“We’ll be vetting all potential buyers,” she said. The owners, Tommy and Cherry Settle, will decide who gets the restaurant.

“They’re looking for the next caretakers, who will maintain the legacy, the recipes, the employees,” Hancock said. “But also they would love to see somebody grow this brand further.”

Kentucky Fried Chicken memorabilia included in Claudia Sanders’ sale

The restaurant comes with the trademark, Claudia Sanders’ likeness, the Sanders’ home on site and lots of historic memorabilia.

Such as Harland Sander’s original Kentucky Colonel certificate, which prompted him to begin calling himself “Colonel” and dressing in the iconic suit and bow tie. And his pressure cooker, engraved with his name, and the stove he used to teach franchisees how to cook that chicken. And an original KFC bucket.

Kentucky Fried Chicken history

As fans of Kentucky Fried Chicken history probably know, Harland Sanders opened his original restaurant in Corbin, where he developed his secret recipe and a patented method for cooking chicken in pressure fryer. That restaurant closed in 1952 and Sanders began franchising. He sold the company to investors, including future Kentucky Governor John Y. Brown, in 1964. The concept eventually spread across the country and eventually the world.

In 1959 the Sanderses moved to Shelbyville where Sanders opened the original KFC headquarters and the restaurant now known as Claudia Sanders Dinner House. It burned down in 1999 and was rebuilt.

“Claudia was the unspoken hero of her husband’s success in business,” said Jonathan Klunk, a listing agent and family representative, in a statement. “And he wanted to honor her by creating Claudia Sanders Dinner House and associated brands. There is so much rich history included in this sale; it is exciting to think about the potential that lies ahead for the right buyer — to honor and protect this legacy and grow the brand even further.”

Claudia met Sanders in the 1930s while working as a waitress in his first restaurant in Corbin, the Sanders Cafe, according to the Associated Press. They later married and she became integral to the business, packaging food and spices for franchises while her husband was out selling the brand. Even after they sold the chain they traveled the world promoting it, Colonel Sanders in his white suit, Claudia Sanders in an antebellum dress, according to her obituary.

Harland Sanders died Dec. 19, 1980; Claudia Sanders died Dec. 31, 1996. The restaurant was sold in 1974 to Tommy and Cherry Settle, who have operated it ever since.

The property for sale includes the 5,000-square-foot home of the late Harland and Claudia Sanders for more than 25 years, 3 acres zoned commercial, and the 25,000-square-foot restaurant and banquet hall. The restaurant is still in operation.

One big question: Does it include “the recipe,” as in the 11 herbs and spices?

KFC, now owned by Louisville-based YUM, would probably say no, since they own it.

The Settles found a handwritten version in the Sanders home, reportedly tucked inside a 1964 datebook. (Another handwritten version surfaced in 2016 in possession of Sanders’ nephew, Joe Ledington.)

The sale will include the recipes the restaurant is using, according to Hancock.

But not the handwritten copies, she said. “That’s special to them and the family would like to hold onto those,” she said.