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ALTON — Woody’s Chicken, a well-known local brand that closed in 2019, made a test comeback on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, by serving its signature chicken tenders from a food truck. The event took place at the Mr. Everything parking lot, 211 E. Elm St., starting at 10 a.m. and will continue until supplies run out.
Vehicles lined up in unbelievable numbers for the event, reflecting strong community enthusiasm for the legendary Woody's Chicken product.
Nate and Lilly Dettmers, family members involved in the effort, said the event offered chicken tenders prepared with the original Woody’s batter, served with a roll and barbecue sauce for $10. Nate and Lilly are third and fourth generations of the Woody's Chicken family. Customers were limited to two orders each on Sunday.
Nate Dettmers said the full Woody’s Chicken menu was not available on Sunday but added, “If the turnout is strong, we want to bring back Woody’s fried chicken and tenders more regularly.”
The food truck operated through a partnership with a longtime family friend who owns the Mr. Everything property. Lilly Dettmers emphasized that although the original Woody’s Chicken building was sold, the family still holds the original recipe and batter.
Currently, the Dettmers family is focusing on food truck operations rather than reopening a physical restaurant, though a brick-and-mortar location remains a possibility for the future.
“We love our customers and the sense of community Woody’s has always had. Hopefully, this trial run will lead to a full comeback,” Nate Dettmers said on C.J. Nasello's "Our Daily Show."
This is the C.J. Nasello, "Our Daily Show!" interview with the Woody's Chicken family members who launched the food truck event on Sunday:
Our Daily Show Interview! Woody's Chicken Back Sunday,1-18 at Mister Everything at 10AM
