Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits has ended its nine-month absence from the Tucson fast food scene.
On Dec. 18 owner Doug Hamilton reopened an old location of the fried chicken fast- food eatery at 7111 E. 22nd St., general manager Nate Moeykens said. The previous owner closed the Popeyes in March.
The Southern-flavored chain features more than 1,800 locations throughout the country, but had been off-limits to Tucson civilians for most of the year. Inaccessible to the public, a location at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base at 5404 E. Granite St., Bldg. 2527, was the franchise's only presence in Tucson. There are eight Popeyes in the Phoenix area.
"While we were remodeling we had people coming by constantly, asking when we were going to reopen and whether it was going to be the same food," Moeykens said. "People are excited."
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Moeykens said business has been brisk. The store's reopening pleased Walter Sharp, a grinning 63-year-old who picked up a box of chicken after riding to the eatery on his bike. He said the reopened Popeyes cuts down on his commute for a fried-chicken fix.
"It makes it a lot easier," Sharp said. "Instead of coming here I used to have to ride a mile to Church's."
Contact reporter Phil Villarreal at 573-4130 or pvillarreal@azstarnet.com