After about two years of renovation but no media announcement about its launch timeline and no soft opening, this new Popeyes store in Oak Park Commons suddenly opened last week in the standalone retail space where the old Hollywood Video and later Fitness 19 used to be.
The store is very small, occupying only half of the building, so don't try to book a child's birthday party here. According to the construction company that renovated this space, this location is franchised like most Popeyes stores.
The interior space has two restrooms, seating for approximately 15 people, and a drive-thru that wraps around the building. A self-serve fountain soda machine is to the left of the counter. The location is the most unfortunate choice I have ever seen for a fast food restaurant, being only a few feet away from a Wells Fargo drive-thru and the bottleneck at the corner of Carmen's. This Popeyes is very visible from the intersection, but getting in and out of the parking lot is a bit of a hassle. The main throughway for this area is behind the McDonald's, which already generates a lot of traffic of its own along with the LA Fitness and Aldi.
As for service, there are still very much some growing pains. Mobile ordering was not working when I visited, so I had to order in person at the cashier. The #1 combo I ordered was fine, but it required a 15-minute wait even though there was only one customer in front of me. There's clearly still a personnel shortage, as evidenced by current staffing levels and the "now hiring" signs outside the store.
On a side note, the other half of the building appears to be empty and not undergoing any active renovation, with no indication of what this Popeye's neighbor will be. read more