FOOD NEWS
The World's Largest KFC Operates in A 1920s Train Station
By Margaret McCormick
When you think of Kentucky Fried Chicken, you might not think of historic buildings with ornate exteriors, soaring cathedral ceilings, and wide-open spaces for serving and seating hundreds of guests. KFC has branched beyond Corbin, Kentucky, with more than 24,000 stores worldwide, including one in a former railway station in Baku, Azerbaijan (per Explored Planet).
At 1,600 square meters, this KFC outlet in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku is the chain's largest restaurant (per Explored Planet). The restaurant is housed in the capital city's former Sabunchu train station, designed by architect N.G. Bayev and constructed in 1926 (per Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty).
AFK Ltd., KFC's franchisee in Baku, Azerbaijan, reportedly spent more than €3 million to give the old train station a new lease on life in 2012. The exterior of the beige stone building features two domed towers, an arched front entrance, and, of course, KFC signage, while the interior's design elements include cathedral ceilings with painted panels in eye-catching patterns.