Popeyes Chicken will open in Cape this year

Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits restaurant will open in Cape Girardeau late this year, offering the chain restaurant's fried chicken.

The restaurant will be on William Street between the Olive Garden and Panera Bread restaurants.

"It will be another restaurant opportunity for the community and the surrounding area," said Bob Hahn, vice president of development for MidAmerica Hotels Corp.

"We will own the franchise. We will build the restaurant and operate it," he said.

More than 1,800 Popeyes restaurants are in operation in 27 countries.

The new Popeyes will have a drive-through.

"We plan to provide the freshest and highest quality chicken product," said Joel Neikirk, vice president of operations for MidAmerica Hotels.

Popeyes offers Cajun chicken along with traditional fried chicken.

The restaurant chain began in New Orleans in 1972. Founder Al Copeland named his business after Popeye Doyle, a character in the movie "The French Connection."

The first franchised Popeyes opened in Baton Rouge, La., in 1976.

Cape Girardeau's Popeyes will be the seventh restaurant to locate in the commercial area near the Holiday Inn Express & Suites and the Victorian Inn & Suites, Hahn said.