Tillie's Chicken Shack

Tillie's Chicken Shack's reputation grew even beyond Harlem

Harlem has always held a special place in its heart for food, with soul food, in particular, permeating the community. There's nothing quite like a well-prepared plate of food crafted with love and care.

Tillie Fripp was the proprietor of Harlem's Southern gem, Tillie's Chicken Shack, a popular spot along Seventh Avenue that attracted the vibrant Harlem nightlife. Tillie’s chicken recipe catapulted her into prominence in 1930s New York City. Combining a speakeasy's ambiance and a restaurant's offerings, Tillie's Chicken Shack earned a reputation as one of Harlem's "must-visit" destinations.

The tale of Tillie Fripp began in 1926 when she started cooking in a roadhouse along the Lincoln Highway in Philadelphia. Her journey led her to New York in 1929 for a weeklong vacation. Fate intervened when she was introduced to the owner of a speakeasy located at 146 West 133rd Street. In need of a cook, the owner offered Tillie the job, and she accepted. She worked there for the next seven months, saving enough money to open her own establishment in a private house next door at 148 West 133rd Street. This street, known as Swing Street for its numerous jazz clubs, became the backdrop for Tillie’s culinary enterprise. Her business model incorporated both music and delectable dishes, attracting a diverse clientele.

From heirs to the Gimbel family fortune to the legendary Harry Houdini, patrons frequented Tillie's Chicken Shack, enjoying the tunes played by Bob Howard on the piano. Howard, a favorite at Tillie's, eventually gained recognition at the venue and secured his big break in a Broadway musical and musical shows on WCBS-TV. The list of notable diners and entertainers included Duke Ellington, W.C. Handy, Ethel Waters, Fats Waller, and Cab Calloway, all of whom savored Tillie's offerings or graced the establishment with their musical talents.

Tillie's pan-fried chicken was renowned as the best one could find, not just in Harlem but anywhere in the world, or so it was said.

According to Walter Winchell, America's foremost gossip columnist and another famous patron, "Tillie started with a chicken in one hand, a prayer in the other."

Tillie's delectable chicken was served in a golden-brown perfection, accompanied by black-eyed peas, fresh vegetables, candied yams drizzled with syrup, and freshly baked biscuits. In 1932, Tillie, now the owner of the building, sold it and relocated to 227 Lenox Avenue. As Tillie's Chicken Shack gained popularity among white patrons, she was encouraged to expand downtown, opening Tillie's Chicken Grill on 166 West 52nd Street and another Tillie's Chicken Shack on 49th Street and 8th Avenue. While she spent time at these downtown locations, Tillie never truly embraced the nightlife there, which differed significantly from the uptown scene. Yearning for the rhythm and atmosphere of Harlem, Tillie returned regularly, re-establishing her full-time presence at the Lenox Avenue location, where she felt most at home in the community that had become her own.

In early January 1936, a fire devastated the interior of Tillie's Chicken Shack. Twenty-two firefighters battled the blaze as thousands of local spectators watched. The fire occurred after hours, with the restaurant closed and no patrons present. Fire inspectors could not determine the cause of the blaze. By late January 1941, Tillie's Chicken Shack made its way back uptown to 157 West 133rd Street.

In later years, Tillie's Chicken Shack remained a cherished memory from the Harlem Renaissance for those who had savored Tillie's famous chicken.