Golden Krust Franchise opens first location in New England area

Howard Campbell

Stratford, Connecticut – Stratford, Connecticut, with its picturesque scenery and quaint communities, is a typical New England city. Seems like the perfect place to open a West Indian restaurant.

Hugely popular in the Jamaican and West Indian diaspora, the Golden Krust franchise opened in Stratford (140 E. Main Street) last August. The 800-square-foot restaurant has 20 employees and is run by Marcia Hawthorne and her partner Sean French.

This is their 10th restaurant and the first in New England. Hawthorne said demand for Golden Krust was high in Stratford, which has a population of just over 53,000.

“It’s no secret and no surprise that everyone wants to have a Golden Krust in their area or nearby. While this is not feasible, we are trying to strategically open stores in centralized locations that are relatively accessible to most. Stratford was just the thing,” said Hawthorne.

Stratford, like many places in New England, was settled in the 17th century by people who fled England due to religious persecution. For many years it has been home to Sikorsky Aircraft, the manufacturer of Air Force One, the official helicopter of the President of the United States.

Hawthorne said that while Stratford does not have a large Jamaican or West Indian community, Stratford has grown fond of Golden Krust and its tropical menu, which includes staples such as dried chicken, curried goat and steamed fish.

“Everyone was so grateful to us for coming to Stratford. We have patrons from all walks of life and the consensus is the same. They are happy that we are in Stratford, and some are just glad that they do not have to drive more than an hour to New York to get their Caribbean goodies,” she explained. “I think we can say the feeling is mutual because we appreciate them just as much. We cannot thank everyone enough for their loyalty, continued support and patronage.”

Marcia Hawthorne is the niece of Lowell Hawthorne, founder of the Golden Krust empire. She and French were born in Jamaica but were educated in New York and New Jersey, respectively.

They also operate Golden Krust franchises in the Bronx, Queens, Teaneck, New Jersey, and Tamarack, South Florida.

The expansion into New England is a sign of big plans.

“For us, the sky is limitless, and so are the possibilities. It is with this mindset that we can stay motivated, determined and relevant,” said Hawthorne.