Popeyes Coming to Gurnee

Popeyes, the godfather of the fried chicken empire, has plans to open the granddaddy of them all. The company was founded in 1972 by Al Copeland, who is credited with the first gram of fried chicken. In the ensuing decades, it has grown to more than 2,700 restaurants and counting, with locations spanning a variety of zip codes and a slew of awards and accolades. Aside from its chicken shacks, Popeyes also manages a full service bar, cafe and a few other taquerias and enotecas. Its menu of franks, burgers and fries will no doubt be among the best in the state. Despite the aforementioned proclivity for fried chicken, the company offers a full slate of health conscious options including organic chicken, low fat meals and gluten free menu items.

Popeyes’ big daddy is slated for an in-development lot at the Grand Hunt Center in Gurnee. The site is also home to the city’s only Starbucks and a smattering of other grocers, eateries and bars. Despite the lack of a central location, the site is anchored by some of the area’s hottest retail properties including Target and Home Depot. Combined with the influx of high-paying professionals, the location should be a high-paying one.