Our Daily Show Interview! Woody's Chicken Back Sunday,1-18 at Mister Everything at 10AM
ALTON — Woody’s Chicken, a longtime local favorite, is making a comeback this Sunday, Jan. 18, with a new twist: serving chicken tenders from a food truck.
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Nate and Lilly Dettmers, third- and fourth-generation family members behind the legendary brand, announced a trial run to test community interest in reviving the business on the Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com with host C.J. Nasello this week. Woody’s originally closed in 2014, but the recipe, batter, and spirit have never left their minds, Lilly said.
The Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, event will be held at the Mr. Everything parking lot at 211 E. Elm Street in Alton, starting at 10 a.m. and continuing until sold out, Nate and Lilly said. The location is being provided through a partnership with Mr. Everything, a longtime family friend who owns the property. Customers are encouraged to check Woody’s Facebook page for updates before arriving.
“We are focusing on chicken tenders out of this location,” Nate said. “We don’t have the capacity for the full chicken menu right now, but if the turnout is strong, we want to bring back Woody’s fried chicken and tenders more regularly.”
The family is currently focused on food trucks rather than reopening a brick-and-mortar restaurant, though a physical location remains a possibility in the future.
Lilly said the timing felt right to bring Woody’s back to the community.
“Woody’s has never left our minds. We want to keep it as calm as possible but still give people the chance to enjoy our famous chicken and slaw again,” she said.
The family emphasized they have not sold the recipe, only the building. Woody’s Chicken will continue to use vegetable oil and maintain the same recipe and batter that made it a staple in Alton for decades.
Nate added, “We love our customers and the sense of community Woody’s has always had. Hopefully, this trial run will lead to a full comeback.”
Customers can line up near the fire department on North Henry Street in Alton and are advised to read updates on Facebook before attending. Prices and other logistics are still being finalized as the family gauges demand.
Sunday’s event marks the first step in what the family hopes will be a steady return of Woody’s Chicken to the Alton community.
This is the Woody's Chicken Facebook page.
