Eugene's Hot Chicken

Eugene’s Hot Chicken is a restaurant and food truck founded in 2015 by Nashville, Tennessee native Zebbie Carney. The bright red food truck, nicknamed "Matilda" or "Big Red", was the first full-time outlet for Nashville-style hot chicken in Birmingham.

Carney, who had been unable to finance his dream of opening a hot chicken restaurant in his native city, moved to Birmingham. In 2015 he enrolled in the "CO.STARTERS" program for entrepreneurs presented by REV Birmingham. The experience helped him connect with suppliers as he launched his food truck business. He opened his first brick-and-mortar location in 2017 in the Uptown entertainment district adjoining the BJCC.

Carney has plans to expand with a commissary serving multiple food trucks in North Birmingham. In October 2020 he opened a location at 3232 Galleria Circle in Riverchase.

References

• Chambers, Jesse (October 27, 2016) "Having storefront ‘amazing feeling’ for owner of Eugene’s Hot Chicken." Iron City Ink
• Rebman, Stephanie (September 9, 2020) "Eugene's Hot Chicken opening location in Hoover." Birmingham Business Journal