Chicago is mourning the loss of Kristen D. Pierce-Sherrod, the longtime chief executive officer of Harold’s Chicken Shack, one of the city’s most iconic and culturally significant food institutions.
Pierce-Sherrod, the daughter of the restaurant’s founder, Harold Pierce, died at the age of 55, according to an announcement shared Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, by her family and colleagues.
Details surrounding her death were not immediately disclosed.
“On behalf of Harold’s Chicken Corporate and The Chicago Children Equestrian Center, we are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our Chief Executive Officer,” a statement from her loved ones read. “The family extends their sincere gratitude for the outpouring of prayers and condolences and kindly asks that their privacy be respected during this time of bereavement.”
Founded in 1950 in Chicago’s Kenwood neighborhood, Harold’s Chicken Shack has grown from a single takeout spot into a beloved culinary brand known for its crispy fried chicken, fries, and signature mild sauce. What began as a modest operation at 47th Street and Greenwood Avenue has since expanded into dozens of locations across the United States, from suburban Illinois to North Carolina.
Pierce-Sherrod often described the business as inseparable from her upbringing and identity. In a 2022 interview published on the company’s page, she reflected on growing up around the restaurant and its workers.
“Harold’s was a family,” she said. “Everyone knew each other. If there was a dispute, it was settled within the family. I was raised around everyone in the business, so it was a big, extended family.”
Raised in Beaverville, Illinois, Pierce-Sherrod formally joined the family business in 2000, working alongside her mother to manage operations. She went on to serve as CEO for more than two decades, helping to preserve the brand’s legacy while guiding its national expansion.
Beyond the restaurant industry, Pierce-Sherrod was also committed to community service. In 2021, she co-founded the Chicago Children Equestrian Center with her husband, Vincent Sherrod. The nonprofit organization provides underserved and vulnerable youth with access to horsemanship programs.
Tributes have poured in across social media, with many Chicagoans describing Harold’s Chicken Shack as more than a restaurant — calling it a cultural landmark tied to generations of shared memories, neighborhood identity, and Black entrepreneurship.
Funeral and memorial arrangements have not yet been announced.
