Colonel Sanders' Iconic House Is for Sale for $9 Million, but There's a Catch Ruffling KFC's FeathersThe lucky buyer will get intellectual and physical property.

BySam Silverman

The former home of KFC founder, Colonel Sanders, has been on the market since June and features a 25,000-square-foot restaurant and banquet hall, but a stipulation in the deal has deterred some buyers.

The home, known as Blackwood Hall, is located in Shelbyville, KY., and was built in 1959. The 5,000-square-foot residence sits on 3 acres of property alongside a restaurant Sanders built for his wife called the Claudia Sanders Dinner House.

The home is being sold in a bundle with the restaurant for a total of $9 million. Also included in the sale is the name and likeness of the "Claudia Sanders" name - which could lead to a legal battle over the intellectual property with KFC for the new buyer.

Courtesy of Andrew Kung Group

Courtesy of Andrew Kung Group

The restaurant is still up and running by the current homeowners, Tommy and Cherry Settle, who bought the home and restaurant from Sanders in the 1970s. It serves fried chicken, cole slaw, and homemade pies, with most reviews calling the restaurant "excellent" onTrip Advisor.

While the home has attracted some buyers looking to expand and franchise the Claudia Sanders Dinner House, KFC's parent company YUM! Brands isn't happy with the two-for-one deal with the possibility of competition, per theNew York Post,and submitted a legal filing to the US Patent & Trademark Office to reinforce protections of the KFC trademark, making it difficult for anyone looking to franchise the Claudia Sanders Dinner House.

Courtesy of Andrew Kung Group

Courtesy of Andrew Kung Group

YUM! hasn't shown interest in purchasing the property or restaurant, Jonathan Klunk, a representative from Six Degrees Real Estate hired to sell the estate, told theNYP. However, he said they are looking to unbundle the properties to attract more buyers, but the possibility of litigation is keeping deals off the table.

Courtesy of Andrew Kung Group

“如果你想使用克劳迪娅圣ders brand you have to have a team of intellectual property lawyers," Klunk said.

However, reps for KFC tell狗万官方that the "sale does not impact KFC, and KFC has no interest in the sale of the Claudia Sanders Dinner House and property in Shelbyville, Kentucky."

Further, reps say that KFC "routinely makes required filings to ensure the continued registration of its US trademark registrations and regularly files new applications for registration which may contain iconic taglines like Finger Lickin' Good, or images like those of the Colonel, to protect new designs utilized in KFC restaurants. The timing of these routine filings is unrelated to the sale of Claudia Sanders Dinner House and property in Shelbyville, Kentucky."

Asides from the restaurant, the home, is a traditional colonial style with original finishings. It features memorabilia also included in the sale such as Colonel Sanders' original Kentucky Colonel certificate, Sanders' monogrammed Bible, and a Happy Birthday card from President Nixon to Sanders. It's unclear how many bedrooms and bathrooms the home includes, but according to images from thelisting, hardwood finishes are featured throughout the home.

Courtesy of Andrew Kung Group

Wavy Line
Sam Silverman

Entrepreneur Staff

Content Strategy Editor

Sam Silverman is a content strategy editor at Entrepreneur Media. She specializes in search engine optimization (SEO), and her work can be found inThe US Sun,Nicki Swift,In Touch Weekly,Life & StyleandHealth. She writes for our news team with a focus on investigating scandals. Her coverage and expertise span from business news, entrepreneurship, technology, and true crime, to the latest in entertainment and TV news. Sam is a graduate of Lehigh University and currently resides in NYC.

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

Business News

Report: AI Will Take More Jobs Away from Women Than Men

Automation is many things, but apparently, it is not gender-neutral.

Business News

What Is a 'Lazy Girl Job'? New TikTok Trend Empowers Women to Work However They Want

The trend began as a way for women to find more free time during their days.

Growing a Business

3 Solutions That Help Alleviate Everyday Pressures Small Business Owners Face

We live in a world with increasing pressures from stakeholders, constantly changing customer expectations and volatile financial conditions — which for many, especially business owners — can make it hard to create clear distinctions between professional and personal emotions.

Starting a Business

10 Common Obstacles to Avoid When Starting a Business

Starting a new business can be an exciting and rewarding venture, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges. Here are some common obstacles to avoid when starting a new business.

Business Ideas

The Top 10 Home Business Ideas for 2023

Can't figure out which enterprise you should launch in 2023? Check out 10 stellar home business ideas to get inspiration.