Kristen Pierce-Sherrod, the CEO of Harold's Chicken Shack and daughter of the legendary Chicago restaurateur Harold Pierce, has died at the age of 55.
According to local ABC affiliate Eyewitness News Chicago, her family confirmed the news on Wednesday, January 14, sharing the announcement on social media. No cause of death was confirmed.
Pierce-Sherrod led the iconic fried chicken chain after her father's death, carrying forward a family business deeply rooted in Chicago culture for more than 75 years. Under her leadership, Harold’s Chicken Shack remained a cornerstone of the city’s South and West Sides while continuing to expand nationwide, with locations in Los Angeles, Houston, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and St. Louis.
Founded in 1950, Harold’s Chicken Shack began when Harold Pierce, a Midway, Alabama native who moved to Chicago during the Great Migration, opened a small restaurant in the Kenwood neighborhood. What started as a local spot quickly became a staple, known for its fried chicken cooked to order and finished with the chain’s signature mild sauce.
In a 2024 interview, Pierce-Sherrod reflected on her father’s journey and the barriers he overcame. “My father was a young Black man from the South with a dream,” she said. “He worked hard during a time when African Americans weren’t capable of obtaining any businesses or funding. And his hard work paid off.”
Pierce-Sherrod grew up inside the business, learning the operation hands-on at family-run locations. “We learned the business at a young age,” she said in the same interview. “We’re not corporate-owned. We are completely a family-run business.”
That family-first approach extended to how Harold’s operates today. Rather than traditional franchising, the company uses licensing agreements and works closely with operators to maintain consistency across locations.
Pierce-Sherrod and her husband, Vincent Sherrod, were actively involved in training and development, visiting restaurants to ensure quality, preparation standards, and customer experience were upheld.
Beyond food, Pierce-Sherrod was also known for her community involvement, including support for the Chicago Children’s Equestrian Center.