New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Popeyes plans to open East Hartford location
EAST HARTFORD — Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen will soon open a new restaurant on the western edge of town.
The East Hartford Planning and Zoning Commission voted Wednesday to approve plans from the Parikh Network, a franchise group that owns more than 100 Popeyes locations across the country, to build a restaurant at 317 Main St.
The Cajun-inspired chain has seen a burst in popularity since launching a fried chicken sandwich nearly three years ago, allowing the fast-food company to aggressively expand. The new location will mark Popeyes' first restaurant in the town and the tenth location in Hartford County.
“I'm looking forward to ordering,” said Commission Chair John Ryan.
According to construction plans filed with the town, the restaurant will be built on a 0.6-acre site wedged between Main and High streets. The restaurant will be bordered by a Shell gas station to the north and a Wendy's at the south.
Jonathan Ralphs, an attorney representing the Parikh Network, said the site's parking lot will include 21 spaces and the drive-thru will be able to accommodate up to a dozen cars at any given time by wrapping around the building.
“Especially considering the site restrictions, we think it's a good option for the site. It's going to keep with the same aesthetic of the current area,” Ralphs said. “The Popeyes is going to generate jobs and provide service and food to the community.”
Site plans filed with the town show the 2,300 square foot restaurant will include a dining room that can seat more than 40 people, a pair of restrooms and office space. Customers will be able to enter the restaurant through doors on the eastern and western sides of the building.
The property will be accessible to vehicles from entrances on Main and High streets, according to the documents. A single exit is planned for the Main Street side of the property.
At a hearing before the commission's vote, some board members raised concerns about the small size of the parking lot and the close proximity of the drive-thru to roadways where the posted speed limit is 35 mph.
But Ralphs noted the drive-thru will include a guardrail separating the queuing vehicles from cars entering the restaurant's parking lot.
It is unclear when residents hungry for Popeyes fried chicken will get a chance to satisfy their cravings. Ralphs did not say when construction is expected to begin or when the restaurant may open its doors.