Al Copeland, Popeyes Chicken Founder, Dies at 64

Copeland opened a restaurant called Chicken on the Run in 1971. After losing money for six months, Copeland changed the recipe of his chicken to a more Cajun style. He reopened the restaurant as Popeyes Mighty Good Fried Chicken. The restaurant was named after Gene Hackman’s character, Popeye Doyle, in “The French Connection.”

The name soon changed to Popeyes Famous Fried Chicken and began franchising in 1976.

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