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Relocated Popeyes Set to Open Today in Coney Island

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Coney Island, Herman Popper, Popeyes Chicken, Popper Building, Surf Avenue on April 10, 2012| 3 Comments »

Popeyes new location in the Popper Building on Surf Avenue. March 30, 2012. Photo © Tricia Vita via flickr

After serving its last supper on August 24, 2010 in its former location at Surf and Stillwell, Popeyes Chicken is reopening today at 1220 Surf Avenue. As previously reported in “Popeyes Chicken Returning to Coney Island’s Surf Avenue” (ATZ, October 17, 2011), the restaurant’s owner had been in business year-round in Coney Island for 27 years, first as Kennedy Fried Chicken and then as Popeyes, when he lost his lease in the now-demolished Henderson Building. The Thor Equities-owned site is now a vacant new building encased in plywood.

The popular fast-food restaurant’s new home is in the Popper Building, which has a distinctive old copper sign that says “Herman Popper & Bro.” Though it does not have landmark designation, the building as well as its original owner have a colorful history. Herman Popper was a whiskey distiller and wholesale liquor seller who once supplied most of the Bowery dives and concert halls. Though selling liquor on the Lord’s Day was then illegal, his business extended to Sundays on the orders of Coney’s notorious John “Boss” McKane.

Popeyes is the third relocated Coney Island eatery to open this week. On Easter Sunday, Cha Cha’s opened a bar/restaurant on Surf Avenue and Steve’s Grill House made a comeback on Stillwell Avenue after losing their leases on the City-owned Boardwalk last year.

Popeyes Chicken Returning to Coney Island’s Surf Avenue

Posted in Food & Drink, Redevelopment, tagged Coney Island, Herman Popper, Popeyes Chicken, Popper Building, Surf Avenue on October 17, 2011| 4 Comments »

Popeyes Chicken former location in the now demolished Henderson Building. Surf & Stillwell Aves., Coney Island. August 21, 2011. Photo © Tricia Vita via flickr

Popeyes Chicken is returning to the south side of Coney Island’s Surf Avenue after more than a year’s absence. The owner has leased the first floor of the Popper Building at 1220 Surf Avenue, just a few doors down from his previous location and has started renovations. The restaurant owner had been in business year-round in Coney Island for 27 years when he lost his lease in the now-demolished Henderson Building at the corner of Surf and Stillwell. The Thor Equities-owned property was one of four lots in Coney Island rezoned by the City for high rise hotels, which set the stage for Thor’s evictions of longtime businesses and demolition of historic buildings.

The popular fried chicken and biscuit restaurant served its last supper at midnight on August 24, 2010. A previously reported deal to lease space in a proposed new restaurant building on the north side of Surf fell through after Horace Bullard sold the property instead of leasing it.

The Popper Building has a distinctive old copper sign that says “Herman Popper & Bro.” Though it does not have landmark designation, the building as well as its original owner have a colorful history. Herman Popper was a whiskey distiller and wholesale liquor seller who once supplied most of the Bowery dives and concert halls. His business extended to Sundays, though selling liquor on the Lord’s Day was then illegal. When his friend John “Boss” McKane was tried in 1894 for conspiracy, Popper was called to testify since he had been in charge of one of McKane’s “paster” booths in a notorious ballot-box stuffing scheme. “Yes sir,” he said when the City attorney asked “Isn’t your Coney Island place open on Sunday?,” according to a report in the New York Times. “The witness got tangled up at once, and wanted to take back his answer.” Finally he acknowledged he ‘received orders’ on Sunday, as directed by John McKane.

The Popper’s most recent first floor tenants were a group of homegrown flea market vendors, some of whom have found new locations in the neighborhood. The building was home to a Carvel ice cream shop from the mid 1970’s through about 1995, according to former Playland arcade operator Stan Fox. He also remembers a greyhound racing game and other games at the location. The art dealer who has owned the building since 1998 occupies the second floor. Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York popped in for a visit in the summer of 2009.