Maryland Fried Chicken Winter Garden to close after 57 years

WINTER GARDEN, Fla. — It will soon be the end of an era for a Winter Garden staple.

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Maryland Fried Chicken -- which has served up its famous pressure-fried chicken, gizzards and livers from its building on West Colonial Drive near Vineland Road since 1966 -- will close April 1.

“For many of you, this was a place you grew up frequenting, and we are thankful that you have since brought your own families,” said Sarah Sleeth, the restaurant’s co-owner, in a Facebook post. “We all mourn the loss of our favorite restaurants as they provide us with so much more than food. They provide nourishment to the soul.”

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Sleeth posted in the Orlando Foodie Forum Facebook group that she wants customers to not just mourn the restaurant’s closure but to also celebrate their decades of patronage.

“Please come in and share a thank you or favorite story with our staff,” she said. “Please express your gratitude as we have the same for them.”

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Sleeth said the restaurant’s furniture and equipment is available for purchase.

She also said that the restaurant is selling a commemorative Maryland Fried Chicken T-shirt, with all profits going directly to restaurant staff.

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There are still other Maryland Fried Chicken locations in Central Florida.

See a list below:

Fairview Shores

5003 Edgewater Drive

Orlando, FL 32810

Union Park

9710 E Colonial Drive

Orlando, FL 32817

Apopka

1672 S Orange Blossom Trail

Apopka, FL 32703

See a map of the Winter Garden location below:

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