Popeye’s Explodes Onto Oneida Square
In most cities it is not a big deal when a new fast food restaurant opens. In the history of Fast Food, thousands of new restaurants have opened; hundreds every year. Bunting, parades and ribbon cutting ceremonies are usually not part of the deal. It’s a Grand Opening, informal gatherings of new customers is expected but what happened on October 9th was a surprise.
So why were hundreds, some say, thousands of Uticans lined up for fifty minutes per wait to get a taste of The newly opened Popeye’s Louisiana Style Fried Chicken. October 9th 2014 will go down in history for the sheer number of people that showed up to get a taste of the popular fast food chain. A steady crowd in the hundreds jammed into the northwest side of Oneida Sq. From the size and duration of the crowd rush one would think:
A. The Chicken is free
B. They are giving away Chicken
C. You Don’t have to pay
D. All of The above
I grew up with Popeye’s Church’s and KFC. A Grand Opening is just that, A Grand Opening, its only a big deal to the owner who wants to make bucket-loads of cash. The Ownership of this Restaurant, The Parikh Network have over ninety stores. They come to town equipped with a proven formula and definitely did their due diligence in regards to market research for the Utica area. It showed. Someone probably got a promotion and our (income gap) economy chugs along.
Any of the many reasons people waited fifty minutes is a testament to one of the ‘social nuances’ that resonates in Utica; the notion that there is an ‘outside world’ with things we really crave. Utica craves Chicken. Let me be clear; “Chicken from Popeye’s”. Can I say it clearer? Uticans Crave Chicken From Popeye’s. Incredible.
The location at 326 Genesee St. used to be the Utica home of KFC (RIP) and then it was briefly ‘turned out’ into a Crown Chicken where the bathroom never worked. So, basically, we know all about chicken joints.
But Oct 9th was special ;when I first arrived I saw local business owner Roger Palek Jr. standing in front of his business directly across the street watching the crowd. “how was the food”, I asked. His one word reply said it all: “BANGIN”
With that I made my way across the crowded street to touch base with the ‘Grand Opening’ crew led by Dwayne Hayes. Dwayne along with colleagues David Damato and Sterling Schraugen are boots on the ground reps for The Parikh Network responsible for new locations. Snaking through traffic to get to them, I had to note the number of cars, coming from both directions, packed into the middle of Genessee St. waiting to make a left and right turn into the drive-thru. It wouldn’t have hurt to have some cops directing traffic, there were enough people for it to get out of hand, just in case they ran out of chicken.
“No Chance of That” Dwayne assured me. The festive atmosphere was punctuated by a fast moving, efficient crew of teenage Uticans. Some on their first jobs. It was nice to see familiar faces in line ordering up Cajun style rice and spicy chicken. People leaving with (sometimes three) gigantic bags of food. I was actually trying to do quick math with regard to the volume of chicken soda ect.; I surmise they fed a third of Utica. I won’t bore you with my unscientific methods, trust me on this.
After a quick chat I was treated to a sample from the menu. It tasted as good as it always did, in Chicago, before I moved to Utica I ate Popeye’s all the time. I had no idea that I missed it until I had some of the Cajun Rice….One Word…. ’BANGIN’
So don’t fret they won’t run out and they are open daily from ten thirty to eleven .
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nomy chugs along.
Any of the many reasons people waited fifty minutes is a testament to one of the ‘social nuances’ that resonates in Utica; the notion that there is an ‘outside world’ with things we really crave. Utica craves Chicken. Let me be clear; “Chicken from Popeye’s”. Can I say it clearer? Uticans Crave Chicken From Popeye’s. Incredible.
The location at 326 Genesee St. used to be the Utica home of KFC (RIP) and then it was briefly ‘turned out’ into a Crown Chicken where the bathroom never worked. So, basically, we know all about chicken joints.
But Oct 9th was special ;when I first arrived I saw local business owner Roger Palek Jr. standing in front of his business directly across the street watching the crowd. “how was the food”, I asked. His one word reply said it all: “BANGIN”
With that I made my way across the crowded street to touch base with the ‘Grand Opening’ crew led by Dwayne Hayes. Dwayne along with colleagues David Damato and Sterling Schraugen are boots on the ground reps for The Parikh Network responsible for new locations. Snaking through traffic to get to them, I had to note the number of cars, coming from both directions, packed into the middle of Genessee St. waiting to make a left and right turn into the drive-thru. It wouldn’t have hurt to have some cops directing traffic, there were enough people for it to get out of hand, just in case they ran out of chicken.
“No Chance of That” Dwayne assured me. The festive atmosphere was punctuated by a fast moving, efficient crew of teenage Uticans. Some on their first jobs. It was nice to see familiar faces in line ordering up Cajun style rice and spicy chicken. People leaving with (sometimes three) gigantic bags of food. I was actually trying to do quick math with regard to the volume of chicken soda ect.; I surmise they fed a third of Utica. I won’t bore you with my unscientific methods, trust me on this.
After a quick chat I was treated to a sample from the menu. It tasted as good as it always did, in Chicago, before I moved to Utica I ate Popeye’s all the time. I had no idea that I missed it until I had some of the Cajun Rice….One Word…. ’BANGIN’
So don’t fret they won’t run out and they are open daily from ten thirty to eleven .
Reply
Forward
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