Buzz
Even with its expansion across the U.S., Popeyes has stayed true to its Louisiana heritage. Its Cajun-inspired menu is one way the chain honors this legacy. As you order fried chicken from your car, you might notice a tribute to the traditional architecture of New Orleans.
A recent tweet showcasing the balconies over Popeyes drive-thru lanes caught the attention of many online. The decorative feature seems largely nonfunctional, with many balconies leading to empty windows or nothing at all. While such details might make sense in upscale restaurants, their use on a single-story fast food location has puzzled some customers.
As noted by Architecture + Branding, Popeyes drew inspiration for this architectural detail from New Orleans's French Quarter. Every year during Mardi Gras, people are known to toss beads from the wrought iron balconies on Bourbon Street. While you won’t see any beads thrown from Popeyes's balconies, their design evokes memories of the city. The restaurant’s distinctive features, like the orange awnings and green goose-neck lamps, also set Popeyes apart in the world of fast food architecture.
Popeyes's ties to Louisiana go beyond mere marketing. In 1972, Al Copeland, the founder of Popeyes, opened his first restaurant in Arabi, a suburb of New Orleans. The original slogan, “So fast, you get your chicken before you get your change,” set the stage for the now-famous Popeyes tagline “Louisiana Fast.” Here are more facts about the iconic fried chicken chain.
