God and chicken: New plans set for Frenchy's, Wheeler Avenue church

Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Marcus D. Cosby, left, and Frenchy's Chicken owner Percy Creuzot, right, announce the restaurant moving to the intersection of Scott and Alabama streets, and the church expanding its blueprint to where Frenchy's currently stands Wednesday, May 31, 2017, in Houston. less Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Marcus D. Cosby, left, and Frenchy's Chicken owner Percy Creuzot, right, announce the restaurant moving to the intersection of Scott and Alabama streets, and the church ... more Photo: Godofredo A. Vasquez, Houston Chronicle Photo: Godofredo A. Vasquez, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 27 Caption Close God and chicken: New plans set for Frenchy's, Wheeler Avenue church 1 / 27 Back to Gallery

Two iconic Third Ward institutions announced a historic deal on Wednesday that will allow the beloved Frenchy's Chicken to expand at another address footsteps away and accommodate an expansion of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church closer to the corner of Scott and Wheeler.

Frenchy's sold its property to the church last summer to make way for a multimillion-dollar plan to enlarge the church sanctuary built three decades ago. The new edifice will seat an estimated 3,500 worshippers and include areas for educational and recreational ministries.

The restaurant, which opened nearly 48 years ago at 3919 Scott to offer creole food to Houston, is set to reopen 2½ blocks away at the corner of Alabama and Scott in early 2018.

The announcement Wednesday by the Wheeler pastor and the Frenchy's chief executive marked the first time top officials from both institutions had addressed the issue, which had sparked controversy in social media over perceived loss of the popular restaurant.

Percy "King" Creuzot III, president of Frenchy's and an associated sausage and food supply company, said the deal offered him and his business partner, Anthony Gaynor, an opportunity to update the original store and step out of the way of Wheeler's progress.

"The church offers hope for people and promotes faith and we cannot stand in front of that happening," the restaurateur said. "I had a lot of people say, 'you're crazy for moving,' but it was really a decision that was really easy for us."

Wheeler Pastor Marcus D. Cosby, the successor and a ministerial son of Wheeler founding pastor William Lawson, said upgrades will be beneficial for the chicken chain and the church, which has a growing congregation of about 16,000 members.

A new parking lot is already in use at the rear of the church campus off Ruth Street. The total expansion has an undetermined price tag, but is not expected to exceed $100 million, the pastor said.

"Anything that is growing, changes, and both institutions have been blessed to grow and to expand," Cosby said. "The Bible is clear that blessings flow from generation to generation and we're so grateful that the generations that began this work here in this Third Ward community with Mr. Creuzot Jr. and with Pastor William Alexander Lawson has been passed down."

Cosby and Creuzot III appeared together after a prayer and praise song opened the news conference. The men addressed the crowd on a low stage set in the Wheeler parking lot with the original Frenchy's in the background. When the program wrapped, a serving line offered Frenchy's chicken and sides.

The reaction to a Frenchy's move hasn't been all sweet potato pie and peach cobbler.

When news of the real estate transaction was reported last year, social media erupted with questions about whether a higher power loved fried chicken, curiosity about why the church was displacing Frenchy's and concern about whether the spicy fried food and its creole fixings would taste the same if not prepared at the original address.

And given the demographics of college students, the backlash played out on social media.

Even Wednesday, as the official announcement reached Frenchy's fans, negative comments ranged from "tragic" to "low-key sad" on Twitter.

"It was costly for them to move and it was costly for the church to pay them an undisclosed amount to move," said Gerald Womack, a longtime Third Ward real estate investor who helped Frenchy's identify a new location. "It's no different for all these large churches or the medical center for people to move. They get together and negotiate what is best for both parties."

He expects the new restaurant and the church expansion to increase development interest along Scott between the Gulf Freeway and North MacGregor.

"It's going to bring jobs. It's going to generate more taxes for the city and for this neighborhood," he said, adding that the location across from the new University of Houston football stadium and a Metro Rail stop means more business. "It was a win for both sides. When they did this facility 48 years ago, there was no rail line. Now they're at a stop. What better opportunity to have?"

The church crowd should follow as well, he said.

"All those people from Wheeler Avenue, I guarantee you, are still going to drive through and get their chicken," Womack said. "It is really an outstanding accomplishment for an African-American business after 48 years."

For three decades, "behind Frenchy's" has been shorthand for directions to the church. Both landmarks draw large constituencies from students at nearby Texas Southern University and UH.

Frenchy's was conceived by Percy Creuzot Jr., a salesman from New Orleans who died in 2010. As an entrepreneur in Third Ward, he enjoyed a decades-long friendship with Lawson, whose congregation originated in the community 55 years ago.

The restaurant opened on July 3, 1969 and served hot sausage po-boys for 75 cents. But a nearby competitor quickly convinced Creuzot to switch to fried chicken and creole sides, including dirty rice.

"We were dying across the street from a Church's Chicken," said Novelle Jones, a niece from New Orleans who helped him open the restaurant on the first day. "Many a day I sat on a soda canister watching the people go to Church's because two pieces of chicken and a pepper at that time were 59 cents. I would just be longing for somebody to come and give me some business.

"When they turned out their lights at 9 o'clock, we started dropping chicken."

Thankfully, Frenchy's had deep fryers and tasty seasonings.

"It was difficult initially," Jones said, recalling "drumming up business with a flashlight" to entice hungry folks who remained standing in line when the other restaurant closed. "The 16-cent difference to a student was a lot of money. Once we started selling chicken, it was 59 cents."

The establishment has provided food from lunch into the late nights for nearly 50 years, and Jones remains an essential team member. Today, Frenchy's has 22 locations and remains poised for a massive expansion over the next decade, Creuzot III said.

Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church has its own storied history. The church was founded in the TSU Baptist Student Union in 1962 with Lawson among the 13 founding members. The church moved into its first sanctuary the same year, and has grown ever since.

The congregation moved into the current facility in 1985. Cosby said that a larger Wheeler campus will energize all ministries, including outreach efforts.

"Church begins from an inside perspective, but always expands to include everyone else, so what we seek to do is make sure the entirety of the community benefits from our expansion," he said. "We try to take very good care of the families in this community. We've always done that. We've never been insulated."

The pastor added that the chicken has spiced up the church's evangelism efforts.

"Folks stop for Frenchy's and stay for Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church," he quipped.

Creuzot III asked how the pastor plans to describe the new distance between neighbors.

"The church that is two blocks down the street from Frenchy's," Cosby replied. "Follow the scent."