Stroud's owner Mike Donegan died Sunday He was 72 years old. Provided photo Stroud's closed its Fairway location on Monday after a planned redevelopment of the space did not materialize. and last updated 2021-05-03 21:27:09-04 KANSAS CITY, Mo. â Mike Donegan, owner of the world-famous friend chicken restaurant, Stroud's, died Sunday, according to a Facebook post from a relative. Donegan was 72. The restaurant opened in 1933 and began serving pan-friend chicken during World War II, according to the restaurant's Facebook page. Donegan and Jim Hogan, bartenders at Kelly's Westport Inn, bought the restaurant in 1977. The restaurant's crispy pan-fried chicken, plentiful sides and cinnamon rolls drew long lines of hungry customers waiting for a chance at the famous food.