Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen

Popeye’s, built in New Haven in 1987, is a commercial food chain known for its spicy New Orleans style chicken. The two-story building is architecturally designed to embody the French Quarter with features like a street-facing facade, cast-iron balcony, and decorative shutters. Located in the Whalley-Dixwell neighborhood, Popeye’s is easily accessible for New Haven residents as well as Yale University students. The chain manages to appeal to both diverse groups due to proximity, affordable prices, delicious food, and a community atmosphere created by the interior organization and red-orange color scheme.

None

Although the building containing Popeye’s was itself built in 1987 for the purpose of being a Popeye’s, the lot was used for different things over time. (Note: Because of the creation of spot 35 and spot 35c, it is difficult to distinguish between the two on the older maps):

1886-1953:Residential space (In the New Haven Directories, names were listed)

1953: Auto Collision Repair

1967: Acme Auto Body Inc

1971: Vacant

1973: Gino’s Restaurant Inc

1976: Part of the lot converted into a parking lot. Gino’s remains

1982: Parking lot. Gino’s building gone.

1987: Popeyes famous fried chicken and biscuits

Looking at the 1886 Sanborn Map, it becomes clear that Whalley Ave was always one of the main avenues starting at the other end of the city as Grand ave, then Elm st, then Whalley Ave. Whalley Ave itself extends outwards from the initial 9-square plan for New Haven, which alludes to the shared use of the road by both city center and outward residential area people.

The tip of the widening strip between Goffe and Whalley has been occupied by several corporations, but also residential homes over time. In 1886, the top part where Popeye’s now sits was occupied by a cluster of buildings. The 1911 Atlas shows the evolution of this space with the current Popeye’s being occupied by the homes of H.E. Todd and F. Thompson. The space was used as a residential home until 1953 when a building in the space behind lot 35, 35c, was created to house Auto Collision Repair (New Haven Directory) . In 1967, the business was replaced by ACME Auto Body Inc and in 1972, the lot was transformed into Gino’s Inc and Gino’s Restaurant (New Haven Directory) . By 1982 the buildings were scrapped and the space turned into a parking lot (New Haven Directory). It is in this empty space that Popeyes was built in 1987. As the area surrounding Whalley Ave and Goffe St developed into populated suburbs, the widening strip became more important to daily life and corporations were replaced by everyday stores like Walgreens and Stop & Shop.

Popeye’s, being a commercial chain, puts a lot of thought and consideration into each building location, weighing the costs and benefits to determine overall chance of success. Popeye’s was built in New Haven in 1987 with the intention of continuing to spread Louisiana culture and cuisine, but also to appeal to the residents of New Haven. Before franchising, the chain considers “competition, economic and demographic data, and geography” (Franchising FAQ ). The 1976 Sanborn map shows that the area that would become Popeye’s was a parking lot, the space that would become the gas station was vacant, and the majority of the strip was occupied by corporations like Continental Baking Co, Auto Sales and Service, and Auto Body Repair, or residential dwellings. The buildings on the other side of Whalley Ave also contained corporations and residential homes as well as the Holiday Inn Motel. In contrast, the street today is more populated with restaurants such as El Amigo Felix, Basil, and Sushi Mizu.

To understand the change that happened, it is necessary to consider New Haven as a whole. While the current estimated median household income in 2016 was $40,457, it was $29,604 in 2000, and presumably even lower in the 1980s (New Haven, Connecticut). I believe the economic difference between Yale University and the surrounding city prompted the gradual bettering of New Haven. For example, on the corner of York St and Broadway, what used to be a Au Bon Pain is now a Patagonia store. The replacement of cheaper stores with more elite ones overtime has pushed New Haven residents farther away from the University. It is for this reason that the existence of affordable chains is so important. I think Popeye’s chose New Haven as a location because of the low-income residents and the proximity to Yale University. They also chose a spot away from the other chains on Chapel St. and farther up Whalley Ave because there is no immediate competition in the area, and they’re closer to the residential areas for people who want to travel walking distance. 

Currently, Popeye’s is owned by Keith and Julia Solomon. Being operated by individuals instead of a corporation has given the New Haven location a more community-oriented and inviting vibe (New Haven). For example, in 2014, the Solomon’s arranged for 550 free turkey meals to be served to the community on Thanksgiving (New Haven). Having no children of their own, the Solomon’s consider their employees and customers to be family (New Haven). In turn, the community considers Popeyes like home. According to regular customer Lotheria Nelson, her three-year old granddaughter calls out, “Popeyes!” every time they pass the restaurant (New Haven).

Popeye’s is located on the strip between Whalley Ave and Goffe St, which both begin in a cluster of streets, including Broadway, Dixwell Ave, and Tower Pkwy, that start together and radiate outwards towards their respective residential areas. Whalley Ave is a significant location for providing business in that it is a major commercial strip extending back to include places like Stop & Shop, CVS, McDonald’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Walgreens. The strip is surrounded by residential neighborhoods on one side (Dwight, Edgewood, Beaver Hills, Dixwell) and Yale University on the other, making the restaurant a nearby option for anyone looking for a quick, affordable meal of spicy New Orleans style chicken. Due to the plethora of commercial stores on Whalley Ave coupled with the low-income residential areas and college university surrounding it, it makes sense that the busy road would be chosen as a spot for Popeye’s. Considering the city as a whole, Whalley Ave is a prominent commercial avenue that breaks the typical grid-like pattern of residential areas and the streets surrounding the college campus. Noting that the location of Popeye’s is on a commercial strip rather than off of highway 91 or 95, it becomes clear that the restaurant was primarily meant for New Haven residents. 

Taking a closer look, Popeye’s is located behind a gas station, across the street from a Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, behind the Zeta frat house, and next to an abandoned UPS building. The gas station takes up the first chunk of space on the triangular strip between Whalley Ave and Goffe St. Behind that is the frat house Zeta, which is known as one of the football frats. To the left and across Goffe St there is Dixwell Lot, which provides parking spaces in addition to the fourteen or so located to the right side in Popeye’s own lot. The proximity of the Marriott Hotel and gas station points travellers in the direction of Popeye’s, which offers quick food perfect for a road trip or a sit down lunch with the family before heading home. Next to the Zeta frat house, but also about 100 yards from frat row, Popeye’s has become a late-night snack destination for Yale students, and occasionally Quinnipiac students who travel to Yale for the night. The abandoned UPS store behind Popeye’s goes mostly unnoticed by customers who approach the front entrance from Whalley Ave.