The long wait is finally over for the people of the parish of St. Thomas, as KFC officially opened the doors on December 2, 2025, to its much-anticipated first restaurant in the township of Morant Bay.

The restaurant, located in the new Morant Bay Urban Centre (MBUC), welcomed its first customers at 10 am on Tuesday, December 2, marking the long-awaited arrival of the nation’s number one quick service restaurant brand to the parish. The addition enhances convenience for residents and supports the activity building at the Urban Centre as foot traffic and commercial services continue to grow.

With this new location now open, KFC footprint expands to 43 locations across the island, including 29 in communities outside Kingston.

KFC Marketing Manager Andrei Roper said the opening marked a hugely significant and memorable occasion for St. Thomas and the Restaurants of Jamaica (ROJ) team.

“This has been a long time coming, and we are extremely happy that this day is finally here. Seeing so many residents come out today shows just how important and significant it is for the KFC brand to finally come to the parish. With over 50 new jobs created and a more than $350 million investment in constructing this new restaurant, we remain committed to communities like Morant Bay, especially after such a challenging period for our nation. We are honoured to begin serving St. Thomas and look forward to growing with the community.”

Roper added, “Morant Bay, we are here. St. Thomas, once the forgotten parish but forgotten no more!”

There was a huge buzz throughout the morning as residents started lining up early to experience the new restaurant, all ready to enjoy their favourite menu items right in their hometown, without the long commute they once faced. Once the restaurant doors opened, the KFC Morant Bay team members eagerly and proudly welcomed the first customers and began serving their world-famous finger lickin’ meals.

Nicholas Chambers was the first walk-in customer, having arrived from as early as 2:00 a.m. Chambers received a welcome KFC gift package filled with KFC-branded merchandise as well as KFC meal vouchers which he promised to put to good use in the not-too-distant future. The KFC drive-thru lane also saw heavy activity shortly after opening, with the line of vehicles quickly swelling as more eager customers arrived. Among the early customers was taxi operator George Campbell, who shared that he had been waiting 32 years for the parish to have a KFC location of its own.

The opening day scenes reflected ROJ’s commitment to supporting development in St. Thomas as one of the early brands anchoring the newly established Morant Bay Urban Centre. This addition is expected to bring steady economic activity to the parish, creating jobs and supporting the wider development taking place in the area. A majority of the team members hired at the new restaurant are from Morant Bay and surrounding communities, underscoring the brand’s focus on supporting local employment. ROJ noted that the opening also comes at an important time, as communities continue to regroup and restore a sense of normalcy following the impact of Hurricane Melissa.

Customers can now enjoy full service at KFC Morant Bay. ROJ added that it remains committed to bringing the best tasting food, quality service, consistency, and convenience to families across St. Thomas.