LOWER NAZARETH TWP., Pa. – Fans of Cajun fries, butterfly shrimp and spicy chicken sandwiches will have a new eatery to frequent in Northampton County later this spring.
A new location of Popeyes, the quick-service chain known for its fried chicken, biscuits and other Southern favorites, is tentatively set to open in late May at the southwest corner of Eastgate Boulevard and Easton-Nazareth Highway (Route 248) in Lower Nazareth Township, according to Jebran Kahn, who’s helping lead the restaurant’s development.
A new location of Popeyes is coming soon to the southwest corner of Eastgate Boulevard and Easton-Nazareth Highway (Route 248) in Lower Nazareth Township.
Ryan Kneller
The restaurant will feature dine-in, to-go and drive-thru services.
The newly constructed, mostly white structure features orange and teal accents and the phrases “famous Louisiana chicken” and “love that chicken” prominently displayed on its façade.
Kahn and the development team were originally hoping to open the new Popeyes eatery in late winter, but construction work took longer than expected.
Finishing touches are now being completed ahead of the restaurant’s grand opening.
A new location of Popeyes is coming soon to the southwest corner of Eastgate Boulevard and Easton-Nazareth Highway (Route 248) in Lower Nazareth Township.
Ryan Kneller
“We don’t have an open date yet, but we are looking at sometime at the end of this month,” Kahn told 69 News on Friday. “We are going to have some grand opening festivities, and individuals from Popeyes corporate will be here to host a ceremony for us.”
Popeyes, which has three other locations in the Lehigh Valley, is part of Restaurant Brands International Inc., which also owns Burger King, Tim Hortons and Firehouse Subs.
Popeyes was founded in 1972 by entrepreneur and culinary innovator Alvin C. Copeland Sr., who opened the first Popeyes restaurant under the name “Chicken on the Run” in the New Orleans suburb of Arabi, according to an online historical account.
A Popeyes location operates on Hanover Avenue in Allentown.
Ryan Kneller
With a menu of traditional Southern-fried chicken, the restaurant struggled initially to attract customers or stand out, but Copeland was not deterred.
“Inspired by Cajun-cooking and his ambition to create fried chicken guests would love, he went back to the drawing board, creating a chicken recipe that gave guests a little kick of spice,” the historical account continues.
“He reopened his restaurant as ‘Popeyes’ — named for Gene Hackman’s hard-boiled police detective Popeye Doyle from the 1971 film The French Connection — and started serving the authentic New Orleans-style spicy chicken that is famous today.”
Ryan Kneller
The first Popeyes franchise restaurant opened in Louisiana in 1976, and the chain’s passion for its Louisiana heritage and flavorful authentic Cajun food has made the company one of the world’s largest chicken quick service restaurants with more than 5,000 locations globally.
Other regional Popeyes locations operate on Hanover Avenue in Allentown, South Fourth Street in Allentown, MacArthur Road in Whitehall Township, Memorial Parkway in Phillipsburg, South West End Boulevard in Quakertown, North Broad Street in Hatfield Township, North Fifth Street Highway in Muhlenberg Township, 4650 Penn Ave. in South Heidelberg Township, Crossings Boulevard in Caernarvon Township, East High Street in Pottstown, North Ninth Street in Stroudsburg and Route 940 in Mount Pocono.
A Popeyes location opened in January 2024 at 680 Memorial Parkway in Phillipsburg.
Ryan Kneller
Popeyes menu highlights include a wide array of chicken options, including tenders, sandwiches and signature chicken boxes and meals; seafood selections such as a shrimp tackle box; and sides such as coleslaw, homestyle mac and cheese and mashed potatoes with Cajun gravy.
“Our culinary heritage is built upon the rich Cajun and creole flavor profiles that are unmistakably Louisiana,” a company description reads. “… Popeyes distinguishes itself with a unique New Orlean style menu featuring spicy chicken, chicken tenders, fried shrimp and other regional items.”