Fred Parker Profiled in The Zebra

Frederic Goodfellow Parker is recognized for his pioneering spirit and the economic value it contributed to upper King Street and the entire City of Alexandria.

Prior to 1980, someone with a hankering for a “bowl of red” on upper King Street would have had a hard time of it. There were few restaurants or attractions and many tired buildings needed rehabilitation.

“It was a rough area,” recollects Parker. When he and his now deceased brother and business partner Jim picked this location for their legendary chili parlor Hard Times Café, early customers sometimes had their cars broken into while dining inside. “But they kept coming back.” Thirty-five years later, they’ve served an estimated 1.1 million bowls of chili. Aside from the Alexandria location, the Hard Times brand has been franchised to include 15 more venues. Parker manages chili products sales on the company website and stars in YouTube videos to spread his passion to the online world.