T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY - A sign on the drive thru pickup window announced that the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant at 3007 S. Center St. closed permanently over the weekend.

After 45 years in Marshalltown, the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) restaurant at 3007 S. Center St. closed its doors permanently over the weekend, news that was announced by signs posted across its doors on Sunday.

Attempts to reach the fast food chain’s media team via phone and email — as well as Central Iowa KFC Inc. of Columbus Junction, which franchised the Marshalltown location — were not immediately successful on Sunday. According to reports in other media outlets, 25 KFC restaurants in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin shut down last August, but there had not been any other more recent closure announcements.

Back in 2022, the T-R reported that the formerly shared KFC/Taco Bell space (both restaurants are owned by Yum! Brands) on South Center Street would become a standalone KFC after remodeling was completed, and Taco Bell eventually opened a new location at 108 Iowa Ave. about a year ago.