Forty years ago today, on Jan. 23, 1986, the Exchange’s first Popeyes—then known as Popeyes Fried Chicken and Biscuits—opened at Fort Stewart in Georgia.
Local command had requested a name-brand chicken restaurant, and the Exchange responded by remodeling part of an existing building—the Enlisted Men’s Club. Maintenance teams from Stewart, Fort Bragg and Piedmont Area Exchanges redid the interior, installing new equipment and décor. About 750 people applied for the jobs at the restaurant, which had an opening team of 111 associates.
Forty years later, Popeyes—now known as Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen—is still an important partner in the Exchange’s food operation, with 85 locations worldwide, including 19 in the Pacific Region, 10 in Europe and one in Qatar. Here’s a look at some Popeyes pieces of Exchange history.
Late 1990: Two Army sergeants are among the first customers to try the first Exchange Popeyes in the Pacific, at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. The opening day celebration included entertainment by the 25th Infantry Division Band, Hawaiian musicians, a 1,000-balloon release, cake and refreshments. The first week’s gross sales set a Popeyes grand opening record. Popeyes still has a location at Schofield, as well as one at the Hickam AFB main store.Autumn 1991: The Popeyes team at the Exchange in Schweinfurt, Germany. Because of limited storage space, the location could only offer about a third of the menu items offered in the United States—but according to its general manager, it started off making $150,000 a month—more than 10 times what similar-size locations made in the States.Late 1992: Opening day at Popeyes Okinawa (note Sailor Man at right). The opening set records for first day and first week sales, with more than 8,500 customer orders on the first day. The opening-week response was so overwhelming that security police had to set up a special lane directing customers from the main road to the restaurant.March 18, 1997: The grand opening of the Popeyes at the Grafenwoehr Exchange in Germany.October 1997: An Army staff sergeant orders from a Popeyes truck at Camp Bonifas, an isolated installation along the Korea Demilitarized Zone. The truck made monthly trips from Camp Casey, which is only 20 miles away, but the trip took 90 minutes one way because of the mountainous terrain.Circa 2004: A Soldier enjoys a “taste of home” at an Exchange Popeyes at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.2012: Troops enjoy the Southern Afghanistan Exchange’s new Popeyes in Kandahar. The Popeyes was part of a food complex that also included Burger King, Pizza Hut and The Village, which served Afghan cuisine. Troops dubbed the complex “The Oasis.”2018: Exchange Iraq GM Kristine Cowley joins LTC Harrelson, commander of the Union III military installation, at the grand opening of the first Popeyes in the country for Operation Inherent Resolve. Cowley is now the general manager of the Okinawa Consolidated Exchange.2020: A Popeyes opens at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. More than 550 service members lined up to get a taste of home on opening day.
Sources: Exchange Post archives, Exchange History on Flickr.
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