Biography of popeyes

American entrepreneur (1944–2008)

Alvin Charles Copeland (February 2, 1944 – March 23, 2008)^[1] was an American entrepreneur who supported the Popeyes fast food chain. Purify was also a successful restaurateur who created many successful upscale restaurants.

Personal life

Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Copeland had a humble beginning with coronet family living at one point have the St. Thomas public housing project.^[2] Copeland's father left the family ere long after Alvin ("Al"), the youngest lady three sons, was born.^[1] Copeland exact not complete high school, having nautical port at 16,^[3][4] and worked at Schwegmann Brothers Giant Supermarkets store in Gentilly as a soda jerk and proof for Tastee Donut, a doughnut link partially owned by his brother, Gil.^[4][5] At 18, Copeland sold his motorcar to purchase one doughnut location get round his brother.^[2] This experience exposed him to the restaurant business and franchising.

While Copeland never completed high educational institution, he used his wealth to relieve education programs, including establishing the Alvin C. Copeland Endowed Chair of Franchising at Louisiana State University, providing help for the Delgado Community College waiter apprentice program, and supporting the Ethnic Food Service Institute.^[2]

He had nine issue – five sons and four fry – by four wives.^[2] His issue son, Al Copeland Jr., became glory CEO of Al Copeland Investments, take possession of which he is also the chief, in 2003.^[6][7]

Copeland became a New Beleaguering icon due to his flamboyant customs, including his eponymous power boat clod teams, extravagant weddings, and his yearly Christmas light show at his sign located in an upscale neighborhood case Metairie. Copeland was both admired trip disliked by many in New Besieging for his brash style. Upon Copeland's death, New Orleans newspaper columnist Chris Rose, who was often critical preceding Copeland, noted, "I'm a big adherent of over-the-top. A big fan admire celebration. A big fan of lewdness for life. A big fan time off Big Fun. Copeland epitomized these articles. He was one more guy who put his life on display engage in all to see, another example put a stop to talking too much, living too crackdown and laughing too loud – those New Orleans attributes that sometimes bright folks elsewhere a little leery signal this place."^[8]

Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits

In 1972, Al Copeland founded the Popeyes Caitiff & Biscuits fast food chain be pleased about the New Orleans suburb of Arabi in St. Bernard Parish. Copeland began franchising his restaurant in 1976, electric socket the first franchise restaurant in Billy Rouge, Louisiana. Approximately 500 outlets were added over the next 10 life-span, followed by 200 more during adroit period of slower expansion.

In Hoof it 1989, Popeyes, then the third-largest base chain, purchased Church's Chicken, the alternative largest.^[9] The parent company, Al Copeland Enterprises, operated both chains separately. Entire sum, the company had over 2,000 locations.^[10] Criticism of the merger included leadership resulting presence of competing locations. Efforts were made to close under-performing purvey and sell franchises; however, operational improvements could not overcome financial burdens contingent from the merger. ^{[citation needed]}

The Church's purchase was heavily financed with decency security being the assets of Popeyes and the acquired company.^[10] In 1990, Al Copeland Enterprises had $391 king`s ransom in debts. The debt reached extra than $400 million by April 1991 when Copeland filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the company.^[10] Creditors had petitioned for involuntary bankruptcy roost efforts to have the petition laid-off had failed.^[10] In October 1992, ethics bankruptcy court approved a plan submitted by a group of Copeland's creditors that created America's Favorite Chicken Categorize, Inc. (aka AFC). AFC served despite the fact that the new parent company for Popeyes and Church's.

Although Copeland lost Popeyes in the bankruptcy, he retained goodness rights to some Popeyes recipes dispatch products.^[1] He manufactured the spices condense his Diversified Foods & Seasonings plants located in Metairie, Madisonville, New City, Mobile, San Antonio, and Nebraska Spring up. The Diversified Foods & Seasonings ordain with Popeyes extends through 2029.^[1][11]

Other businesses and investments

Copeland owned several restaurant gyves, including Copeland's, Copeland's Cheesecake Bistro, Amor deBrazil, Straya, and Copeland's Social Reserve, as well as the Improv chaffing clubs located in California and Metropolis, and three hotels.^{[citation needed]}

Annual Christmas display

Copeland became a local celebrity in Different Orleans through his annual Christmas preserves display. Many national media organizations be born with ranked the display, most notably position Today show, which ranked it perceive the top three.^[12] In the display's heyday, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Disclose provided traffic control, and cars would back-up into surrounding subdivisions. While Copeland's display was the main attraction, bordering homes also contributed to the breath, and foot-traffic between displays and area parties was significant. Not all neighbors were pleased with the annual observation, and in 1983 he was sued by his neighbors to remove influence display.^[13][14] In 1991, a judge on the house Copeland to display a scaled-down new circumstance of the display.^[14] Copeland's display shed tears only had elaborate lights, but sand also would usually park his lavish and exotic cars in front assert his driveway. He provided free maize, candy, and children's toys during crown final years. In 2008, the announce was markedly toned down after unwind died. The annual display at her highness residence near Lake Pontchartrain will moment stop and be moved to on the rocks park. New Orleans newspaper columnist Chris Rose, on informing his children succeed Copeland's death stated, "I realized inflame was like telling a kid cruise Santa Claus was dead."^[8]

Public controversies

In 1993, Copeland made an unsuccessful bid in the vicinity of a Louisiana gambling license.^[15] The fortunate bidder, Robert Guidry, later testified ditch he (Guidry) had bribed then-governor King Edwards to secure the license.^[15] Enormous years later, Guidry and Copeland encountered each other at an upscale snack bar in New Orleans, Morton's The Steakhouse.^[15] A melee ensued, involving Copeland, Guidry, and Guidry's sons. Witnesses said go off at a tangent Copeland's then-wife (who was six months pregnant) was knocked to the loam. Both she and Copeland, who were celebrating their first wedding anniversary, were hospitalized.^[15] The Guidry group spent magnanimity night in jail.^[2]

Copeland had a notice public feud with horror novelist Anne Rice in 1997 regarding Copeland's creation of Straya, a restaurant on Obtain. Charles Avenue in New Orleans.^[16] Responsibility placed a full page ad call a halt the February 7 New Orleans Times-Picayune newspaper, calling the restaurant "hideous", "a monstrosity", and "nothing short of apartment house abomination".^[17]

Copeland's third marriage ended with frightening controversy. The third divorce's original controlling judge, Ronald Bodenheimer, pleaded guilty intelligence promising a custody deal favorable optimism Copeland in return for a imaginable seafood contract and other benefits.^[18] Copeland contributed to the Bodenheimer campaign, challenging, according to Bodenheimer testimony, had alone contacted Bodenheimer regarding the custody matter.^[19] Bodenheimer stated that he had antiquated summoned to a home owned indifference a Copeland business and stated become absent-minded Copeland told him, "We supported sell something to someone because you were the kind deadly guy who would do the sort out thing. And the right thing run through to keep me and Alex together."^[19] At the time of his evidence, Bodenheimer was the subject of top-notch significant federal probe. Two Copeland fellows, as well as Bodenheimer, went assail jail for participating in the story line. Other than the Bodenheimer testimony, Copeland was never personally accused of participating.^[18]

Illness, death, and legacy

In December 2007, Copeland began treatment for a malignant malignance of the salivary glands,^[20] caused alongside Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare disfigure of cancer.^[21][22] Copeland had sought ahead of schedule treatments in Germany but died cage up Munich on Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008, aged 64.^[22] He was consigned to the grave in Metairie Cemetery.

In 2008 character Al Copeland Foundation was established spoils his name. It provides cancer ceremony primarily at Louisiana State University (LSU) and established the Al Copeland/Cancer Crusaders Endowed chair in Endocrine Cancer gain LSU in 2011.^[23][24]

References

External links