Laddy Singh has achieved cult status with some of his avid customers in Grand Rapids thanks to a spectacular fried chicken recipe that has kept the deep-fryers going night and day in the Furniture City for more than five years now. He honed that secret recipe while he was living in New York, and that's why he calls his restaurant New York Fried Chicken.
Now, Laddy is being joined in the business by his brother from St. Joseph, Deep Singh, to launch the second enterprise in the New York Fried Chicken realm, as they work to renovate the former Domino's Pizza building at 610 E. Napier Avenue, between the Signature Automotive Group and Art & Image Sign Shop in Benton Harbor. It's the space most recently home to Load a Spud Potatoes, and before that Wing Heaven.
The Singh brothers purchased the building last month from Don & Barbara Meeks of Benton Harbor, and hope to have their new diner ready for business sometime next month. Work crews are already beginning the makeover, and they will need clearance from the Berrien County Health Department Inspection team and other authorities, but they have a strong track record at Laddy's place in Grand Rapids, and a loyal following as well.
Laddy's first enterprise, Town's Fried Chicken, consisted of a counter in the back of a grocery store on Eastern Avenue in Grand Rapids until he gathered the resources to open New York Fried Chicken at 743 Division Avenue S.E. in Grand Rapids. That was more than five years ago, and the restaurant is going strong, despite being in a rough part of the city.
Once operations are ready to roll, New York Fried Chicken is expected to be open seven days a week from 10am until 2am, and if the demand is there, they will even maintain later drive-thru only hours beyond 2am for hungry souls looking for late night options around town.
Due to the size of the public space at the new restaurant, the Singh brothers say that they will operate strictly on take-out, drive-thru, and delivery services only. There is simply no space for in-house dining. While they may lack space, they more than make up for it with a wide-ranging and extensive menu filled with fast-food options. Laddy will continue to manage the Grand Rapids store, and Deep will operate the new shop on Napier with a menu that will be identical to that of his brother.
The menu includes New York-style chicken combinations from a 2-piece Snack Box all the way to a 21-piece Box. Other options include a 3-piece Dinner Box, a 5-piece Jumbo Box, a 6-piece Wing Box, and piece boxes offering 8, 12, 15 and then the ultimate 21-piece Box. Each of the box meals includes sides ranging from rolls and mashed potatoes to coleslaw, and macaroni salad in various quantities.
Customers can also order chicken by the individual piece up to a 22-piece Barrel, or Chicken with Fries…Hot Wings…Nuggets and Tenders.
Other menu items include hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches, gyros, Philly Steak sandwiches, fish sandwiches, Italian beef, and an entire line for seafood lovers from jumbo shrimp to peach, cod, catfish, Tilapia and more. Desserts include apple and pecan pie, homemade banana pudding, and a couple of cheesecakes.
An extensive side menu includes mac & cheese, fried pickles, onion rings & fries, popcorn chicken, potato wedges, mozzarella sticks, mashed potatoes, chicken sticks, cheddar munchies, cheese fries, salads, cauliflower, mushrooms, okra, gizzards, nachos, pizza puffs, cheddar & broccoli bites, jalapeno bites and sweet potato wedges.
Rounding things out are a complete line of soft drinks, teas and lemonade.
Stay tuned for additional information regarding the opening of the new diner, but don't be fooled by what might look like a ton of activity over the 4th of July weekend. While I was chatting with the Singhs about their new venture, Bill Crowder from Signature Automotive Group dropped by to seek permission to move some of his inventory of new cars onto the New York Fried Chicken parking lot on July 2nd and 3rd while his dealership lot undergoes a fresh asphalt seal coating. The Singhs will not be ready for business by that time, but hope to be up and running shortly thereafter.
Shown in the photo accompanying this story at Moody on the Market.com are Deep Singh (on the left) and his brother Laddy in the midst of renovations at 610 E. Napier Avenue in Benton Harbor.
