Hilton Head Popeyes on track to open at end of summer, owner says
Hilton Head Island's first Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen will be open at the end of summer or early fall, according to the restaurant's owner.
Construction on the fried-chicken chain is beginning at the site of the former Pasta Garden at 15 Park Lane this week, said Gale Brown, an island resident and the restaurant's owner.
Earlier this year, Brown had hoped to open the restaurant in June, but permitting has taken longer than initially expected, she said. Aside from the "learning experience" of how to get through the town processes, there haven't been any major hiccups in the plans, though, she added.
As the physical building begins to take shape over the next two months, Brown and Popeyes are already training managers for the location at sessions in Charleston. The restaurant is still wants to hire one more manager, she added.
All the while, interest is already building around the restaurant, Brown said.
"Even now I get notes from my neighbors wanting to know what's going on," Brown laughed. "They watch the progress more than I do."
The restaurant will be the first Beaufort County location for Popeyes.
The Georgia-based fast-food company was the seventh-fastest growing chain in 2013, according to Forbes Magazine. It has more than 2,000 locations worldwide, according to its website.
Follow reporter Zach Murdock on Twitter at twitter.com/IPBG_Zach and on Facebook at facebook.com/IPBGZach.
- Popeyes to fire up the fryers on Hilton Head Island by June, owner says, Feb. 10, 2015
- Corporate brands build differently on Hilton Head, Jan. 17, 2015
- Popeyes Chicken considers Hilton Head, Nov. 21, 2014
This story was originally published July 1, 2015 at 12:16 PM with the headline "Hilton Head Popeyes on track to open at end of summer, owner says."