We invite you to take a step back in time.

Popeyes’® story began in 1972, when Al Copeland opened a quick-service restaurant called “Chicken on the Run.” The restaurant served traditional mild fried chicken to the folks in the small New Orleans suburb of Arabi. Unfortunately, business was slow. Copeland realized that he’d have to sell a spicier alternative to his standard chicken recipe if he wanted to impress flavor-seeking New Orleanians.

Copeland soon reopened his restaurant as “Popeyes®,” named after the character Popeye Doyle in the movie “The French Connection.” Popeyes opened its first franchise restaurant in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and added 500 more over the next decade.

Popeyes® went global in 1984 by expanding into Toronto, Canada. Popeyes continues to expand into new markets around the globe.

A year later, Popeyes® opened its 500th restaurant, putting the brand on equal footing with national competitors.

In a nationwide taste test, Popeyes® beat Church’s Chicken and KFC. As a result, Popeyes launched a campaign, “America’s Fried Chicken Champ – The Spicy Taste That Can’t Be Beat.”

By 1989, nearly 700 Popeyes® restaurants served customers throughout the U.S.

Popeyes® entered a new era of growth when America’s Favorite Chicken Company, now known as AFC Enterprises, Inc., became the new parent company of Popeyes. The brand’s headquarters moved to Atlanta, and AFC mounted a major re-imaging campaign to update the look of Popeyes restaurants.

As the world traveled to Atlanta for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, Popeyes® opened its 1,000th restaurant worldwide in the Sweet Auburn historic district of the city. Popeyes was also named “Best Fried Chicken” in Dallas, Atlanta and New Orleans, a feat almost unheard of in the quick-service restaurant industry.

Nationwide events and restaurant specials kicked off a year of celebration as Popeyes® marked its 25th anniversary. Popeyes returned to its Cajun roots with a new restaurant design and menu to reflect that New Orleans zest. A bright, colorful new look and exciting new dishes complemented the change.

The brand added the Popeyes® Louisiana Legends™ line of over-rice dishes in 1998, winning a MenuMasters award in the Best Menu/Line Extension by Nation’s Restaurant News.

Industry recognition continued as Popeyes® earned a Gold Award in the Customer Service category of the “Restaurants & Institutions Choice in Chains” awards – the second time the brand was recognized by the publication.

Popeyes® celebrated its 30th anniversary by winning two prestigious industry awards for culinary excellence and customer service. Popeyes won Restaurant Business Magazine’s Menu Strategist Award in the quick service category. Popeyes was also honored as the gold level winner in Restaurants & Institutions’ Choice in Chains Customer Satisfaction Awards, the third time the chain was recognized by the publication.

As we approach our 35th year of serving great food in a unique environment, we continue to look ahead to the future. Our leadership team remains committed to creating fresh new ideas to propel Popeyes® even further into the hearts – and stomachs – of our customers.