Those driving east down Lincoln Highway may have noticed a seemingly abandoned storefront topped by giant lights spelling one word: CHICKEN.

The name of that restaurant is Lothson’s Karry-Out, 644 E. Lincoln Highway, “Where Chicken is King.” Currently run by one employee, Janet Fawcett, Lothson’s was opened by DeKalb native Keith Lothson and his wife Arlene in 1949 at their first location on Market Street. Fawcett said she has helped out at the restaurant since Keith Lothson got sick in 1990. Fawcett ran the restaurant since his death in 1991. She has been a member of the Lothson family for 42 years, she said.

“It’s got good food, and it’s a family-owned business that’s been here for a long time,” said DeKalb Mayor Kris Povlsen. “It’s good chicken.”

Fawcett said Lothson’s began as an egg and dressed poultry restaurant and began frying chicken in 1950. Lothson’s also serves fried perch as well as fried livers and gizzards.

“They’ve been in this building since somewhere around 1957 or 1958,” Fawcett said.

Lothson’s was originally a full-service restaurant with five locations in Rochelle, Elgin and Rockford, all of which are now closed. The restaurant on Lincoln Highway is the last location still open, she said.

Sycamore resident Michelle Anderson said she and her husband love Lothson’s.

“If I was going to get fried chicken, it would be there,” Anderson said. “My husband loves the coleslaw.”

The majority of the restaurant’s business does not come from university students, since Lothson’s does not advertise, Fawcett said.

“The ones that do find out, its mostly through word of mouth, and they keep coming back,” she said.

Fawcett said since she has another job during the day, Lothson’s hours of operation work for her and allow her to continue serving food.

“Over the years, as [the Lothson’s] got older, they scaled [the hours] back to what they could do,” Fawcett said. “Since I have so many loyal customers, I’ve just kept on going.”

Lothson’s Karry-Out is open from 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, accepting orders no later than 7:45 p.m.