LOWER NAZARETH TWP., Pa. – Fans of Cajun fries, butterfly shrimp and spicy chicken sandwiches will have a new eatery to frequent in Northampton County in the new year.
A new location of Popeyes, the quick-service chain known for its fried chicken, biscuits and other Southern favorites, is expected to open in early February 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.
“All construction work should be wrapped up by the end of January, and we expect to be open for service within a few weeks after that,” Kahn told 69 News. “We’re very excited to join the community.”
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.
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.”
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.
A Popeyes location operates on Hanover Avenue in Allentown.
Ryan Kneller
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.
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.
A Popeyes location opened in January 2024 at 680 Memorial Parkway in Phillipsburg.
Ryan Kneller
“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.”