GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – The chicken definitely crossed the road this week, as traffic problems police anticipated surrounding the opening of Green Bay’s first Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen restaurant at the intersection of Mason and Taylor Streets became reality.
“Before they opened, I would say there were probably 65-75 cars lined up. They were backed up all the way onto Mason Street…They’re all parked on the frontage road. We did two lanes there and then they started backing out onto the roadway,” said Officer Gerry Young. “I contacted the street department, had them come out and we’re blocking one of the lanes off at Mason and Bentwood to allow vehicles to pull off in the right-hand lane.”
“I still don’t think they realized it would be like this. I tried to tell Lieutenant Sobieck, he was like ‘Yeah, okay. It’s going to busy,’ but he found out this morning that – oh yeah, it’s on,” said Franchisee and SmitCo Eateries Chairman Brian Smith.
By noon, Young had his squad car set up down the block with the lights flashing to warn westbound drivers on Mason Street to keep an eye out for those turning in towards the line. With the lines expected to continue for quite some time, he thinks they may need a new strategy.
“We’re just going to do the best we can and keep the cones out and try to find a different way to divert the traffic,” Young said.
SmitCo Eateries Chairman and Green Bay Popeyes Franchisee Brian Smith speaks with customers who are waiting in a lengthy drive-thru line on the restaurant location’s first day in business. (PHOTO/WTAQ News)
“It’s this way everywhere we go. It’s just the response that we get…This is my 25th restaurant. They’ve all been like this,” Smith told WTAQ News. “It’ll last for another three weeks just like this…We don’t have our lobby open simply because when we open up these restaurants, it’s just a sea of people. You just can’t fit anybody else in there. They’re out the door, down the sidewalk, and it lasts 2-3 weeks.”
The lines were long enough to create a traffic jam this morning. For those wondering just how long they were – here’s an idea.
“Our first guests arrived at 7:06 a.m. I interviewed them on my phone. The next one pulled up about 7:10 a.m., and they just started stacking. “Since 7:06 a.m., we’ve had someone in line. Then we probably had 20 cars by 8:30 a.m. We opened up at 10:30 a.m.,” Smith explained.
Within the first hour and a half or so, Smith says they fed people in about 75 cars through their drive-thru and call-in services. We spoke with some of the people who were waiting to curb their fried chicken cravings.
“I’ve been in line for like two hours, and I’m very excited about this. I don’t have to drive to Appleton anymore!” Quinten laughed. “I’ve been here for eight years, and it took them eight years to finally get it. Before that, I used to have to go all the way to Milwaukee before they got it in Appleton…I’m excited, but they need to open up another one on the other side of town.”
“Just growing up with it. Now that it’s here in Green Bay, it’s been a long time coming,” said another man named Quinten, who was just a few cars further back in line.
“Well I’ve been here for 2 hours and I’m looking forward to having trying their chicken!” said Pat. “You see it on TV all the time. So I thought, well it’s the new place, I’ll go try it out.”
While both Quintens were prepared to wait quite a while for their chicken sandwiches, the first-timer a few cars back had no idea what she was in for.
“Did you expect to wait this long?” WTAQ News asked Pat.
“No. Never in a million years,” she replied.
“What was it that made you decide to stay in the line?” WTAQ asked.
“I couldn’t get out of line!” Pat laughed. “I couldn’t get into the parking lot to turn around and leave, so I just sat there.”
But the real question – was the wait worth it?
“Yes. Most definitely,” the second Quinten said. “[It’s] good fresh chicken!”
Despite the lines and lengthy wait times, Smith says he has been impressed with the response from the Green Bay community.
“There’s just something different about this restaurant as far as the vibe and the energy from the community. Of course, this is a large market that has never had the brand so that makes a difference,” Smith said.
If you’re still hoping to make your way through the line, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is open until 10 p.m. every night.
