By Anna Yoder | Columnist

I know I am not the first and most assuredly I will not be the last person to write about Eugene Thomas, the affable and successful Northside businessman and owner of a Northside staple, Quik-It Chicken.

There is so much to write about Eugene Thomas, I quite frankly did not know where to start. Like all good stories, I figured I would start at the beginning. Eugene’s story began in 1984, with a full-service grocery store he opened in his neighborhood of Manchester. Eugene called his store “Manchester Market” and described it as a “mom and pop deli with fresh meats.”

Eugene learned the grocery business and how to butcher meat from the previous owner of the store. Unbeknownst to him at the time, Eugene’s skill of butchering would serve him well in the future.

In 1986, Eugene moved his store to Federal Street where he branded the original Quik-It. At that time, Quik-It was a convenience store deli with a “grocery store concept minus the fresh meats.” In 1988, Eugene discovered “pressure-fried chicken” from Neil Thompson, the inventor of the “pulse purge fryers” used to cook the chicken and the creator of the special seasoned breading used to prepare the chicken.

When Eugene offered this same tasty chicken in his Federal Street store coated with the unique breading, the Quik-It Chicken brand was born. To this day, Eugene uses the same seasoned breading as in 1988! (I asked for the secret breading recipe but he would not share its ingredients with me. Can’t blame a girl for trying…)

In 1993, the re-development of Federal Street forced Eugene to move his store. In 1994, Eugene bought the property of his current Quik-It Chicken location on Pennsylvania Avenue. Yet this was not an easy purchase. Eugene explained that he was originally turned down by five banks during the property acquisition process yet was “determined to keep trying.”

As a result of his sheer determination, Eugene purchased the property where the gas station, convenience store, and his Quik-It Chicken business are located. Eugene told me that he was the first African American to build a fueling facility in Western Pennsylvania.

Eugene poured his heart and soul into his business and eventually expanded the Quik-It Chicken into a franchise. Eugene also became the first African American to have a business in PNC Park on its opening day!

Eugene said, “to break barriers you must work through the obstacles and believe in yourself.” The famous Quik-It Chicken was a part of the food vendors at PNC Park for an amazing 10-year run.

If you have never had Quik-It Chicken, let me introduce you to its offerings: meaty chicken wings, thighs, breasts, and tenders with a delightfully distinct taste that cannot be duplicated. If tantalizing homemade side dishes such as meatless and slightly spicy collard greens, mashed potatoes, or macaroni and cheese are what you are craving, Quik-It Chicken has those too and much more. Meals are also served with homemade corn muffins (yes “homemade” is the key to Quik-It Chicken’s delicious taste) that have an undeniable uniqueness due to the characteristic maple sprinkle.

Since this popular establishment is found connected to a convenience store and gas station, one wonders if this chicken is what some would call “gas station” chicken? If you look on the internet, “gas station” chicken is loosely defined as fried chicken that can be bought from a food marketplace found inside gas stations and convenience stores.

Quik-It Chicken is a totally separate business from the convenience store and the gas station, and therefore, is not actually “gas station” chicken. (And Eugene does not classify his chicken as such.) Yet one thing is for sure, “gas station” chicken or not, that definition falls short in describing the tastiest fried chicken from anywhere and you can buy it right here on the Northside from Quik-It Chicken!

Eugene also offers BBQ ribs and says they are the number one ordered item and the customers’ favorite. He offers St. Louis and “regular” ribs whose difference he defines as being in the “cut” of the rib. According to Eugene, the St. Louis rib is the “filet mignon of ribs” and he cuts them from the prime center portion of the rib.

In addition to the rib preparation, Eugene also butchers and hand breads his own chicken which is cooked fresh daily. A meal from Quik-It Chicken is so lip-smacking good, customers come from miles around to enjoy it. Fortunately, most of us only have to walk or drive a few blocks to enjoy it.

I discovered Quik-It Chicken on a recommendation from a dear friend who has lived on the Northside since the 1980’s and it has become my ONLY go-to place for fried chicken and collard greens. If you have never had Quik-It Chicken, you are in for a flavorsome treat!

Thomas shows off the various community recognition awards and plaques Quik-It Chicken has earned over the years. The restaurant has been in operation for 42 years. Photo by Anna Yoder

We chatted a lot about chicken and ribs, yet it is not these things that Eugene wants to be known for.

Eugene wants to be remembered for being a “good honest person and a role model in the community.” If you see the number of newspaper clippings, awards, and recognitions from community organizations and groups on the wall at Quik-It Chicken, you will soon realize that Eugene has already been recognized for his work in the neighborhood.

In the 1990’s Eugene was involved in Project Move associated with Oliver High School where he offered “jobs to students and mentored them in developing a business mindset.” He has donated food for the Project Life Line Youth Education Initiative; he has sponsored countless baseball, football, girls’ softball, and other community teams among other community sponsored endeavors. Before tasting his mouth watering chicken, I first met Eugene at a neighborhood street event where he was handing out flavored ice from his ice machine truck to neighbors for free.

Eugene is also a thoughtful, introspective, open, and loving individual who treats everyone with kindness and respect. And he has connected with customers on a personal level when they needed it most.

Eugene shared a story of a woman who opened a conversation with him after she purchased her meal and they spent a great deal of time talking together about what she was going through. One year later, the same (out of state) woman returned and gave Eugene a sign acknowledging the kindness and love he extended to her which remains posted in his store to this day. It reads: “I LOVE YOU! You’re probably thinking, You don’t even know me? That’s true… But if people can hate for no reason… I CAN LOVE!” Eugene reflected on current events and the manifestation of hate that has been seen recently and offered this tidbit of wisdom that the root of hate “is a misunderstanding of people.”

Before we said our goodbyes, I asked Eugene what he wanted our readers to know about him that we might not otherwise know. His response was thoughtful and short: “I’m a recovering addict.” That was in 1986. With what he describes as a “no quit attitude” and striving to be the “best he can be,” Eugene has shown “what could be done coming from nothing to being somebody.” Eugene Thomas has certainly made the Northside a better place for all of us while offering an opportunity to taste the best fried chicken and scrumptious homemade food for the last 42 years!

Clearly, Eugene Thomas is about much more than chicken.

Quik-It Chicken is located at 820 Pennsylvania Ave., and can be reached at (412) 321-1535.