Construction is officially underway at two long-planned new locations in Shawnee and Lenexa of popular fast food chicken chain Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen.
The plans for the new franchises were first announced almost two years ago as part of a plan to open several new Johnson County locations and renovate existing ones.
Currently, there are more than 10 Popeyes locations in the Kansas City area, mostly on the Missouri side. Existing Johnson County locations are in Olathe and in Mission, but the Mission restaurant was closed by a fire earlier this year.
The communications arm of the Popeyes brand did not reply to the Post’s requests for comment on opening timelines or other plans pertaining to the new restaurants in Shawnee and Lenexa.
Lenexa Popeyes is coming to Oak Park Commons
- In early January 2022, Lenexa signed off on final plans for the restaurant at 9460 Quivira Road on the Lenexa side of the greater Oak Park shopping district.
- The plans envision a 2,400-square-foot restaurant with a drive-thru.
- Previously, the site was home to a Burger King first built in the mid-1970s. It was demolished to make way for the new Popeyes.
Popeyes is opening in downtown Shawnee
- Last March, Shawnee approved the final plans for the restaurant at 6235 Nieman Road between Johnson Drive and Shawnee Mission Parkway in the city’s downtown district.
- This restaurant is expected to be just under 2,400 square feet and will also have a drive-thru.
- In the past, this particular property was used as a gas station and convenience store, the remnants of which have all been removed from the site following a demolition process that started in 2016.
Popeyes is expanding into Overland Park as well
- Last year, the company submitted site development plans to Overland Park for a new restaurant down south.
- It has identified the former Tay’s Burger Shack building at 7724 W. 151st St. as a future location. Exactly when it will open is unclear.
- KC-based Tay’s Burger Shack opened a second location in Overland Park in late 2020, but it was closed less than two years later due to persistent staffing issues.
Related news: Here’s what is happening with the fire-damaged Popeyes in Mission
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