Northeastern Students Say Goodbye To Chicken Lou’s

The iconic campus eatery is set to close its doors this coming April

When I was trying to decide what to capture for my JRNL 1102 project on photojournalism, I knew that I wanted to choose something that encapsulates the Northeastern spirit. While I sat on a few options, there was only ever really one option: Chicken Lou’s.

Chicken Lou’s is a locally owned and operated eatery on campus. Their campus presence has been felt since their establishment in 1978, and for many students this is the place to get breakfast, lunch and dinner. Often nights the establishment will close early because they run out of bread and literally cannot serve anymore food.

What’s impressive is how Chicken Lou’s has been able to thrive even among other perennial dining-dollar options like the Popeyes in Curry. Maybe it speaks to their quality or maybe it speaks to the respect they’ve garnered from students and faculty alike, but many people will feel the absence left behind this coming April. They aren’t even closing for financial reasons (according to the official Facebook page), but rather the owners have chosen to step down.

From experience, I know there’s always a line out the door between 12 and 1 p.m. So, after class, I scoped out a spot across the street and waited. For a while, it was a ghost town. I was worried, knowing that I’d be gone the entire weekend and this was my best chance at a good shot.

Just as I was about ready to phone it in, everything changed. Like a hive mind, a good 15 to 20 students simultaneously queued up. Maybe they were all friends, or maybe they all just shared an affinity for Chicken Lou’s. Regardless, there was my shot.

Admittedly, I don’t go to Chicken Lou’s as much as I should, especially given that they’re closing. I think the fact that it’s my first year on campus means I don’t feel the connection to the eatery that upperclassmen, faculty and alumni may feel. However, it’s pictures like these that make it incredibly obvious that the Northeastern campus will be losing a staple this coming April.