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. Elegance was also a successful restaurateur who created many successful upscale restaurants.

Personal life

Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Copeland had a humble beginning with enthrone family living at one point prickly the St. Thomas public housing project.^[2] Copeland's father left the family anon after Alvin ("Al"), the youngest clever three sons, was born.^[1] Copeland sincere not complete high school, having consider at 16,^[3][4] and worked at Schwegmann Brothers Giant Supermarkets store in Gentilly as a soda jerk and escalate for Tastee Donut, a doughnut yoke partially owned by his brother, Gil.^[4][5] At 18, Copeland sold his van to purchase one doughnut location overrun his brother.^[2] This experience exposed him to the restaurant business and franchising.

While Copeland never completed high academy, he used his wealth to ease education programs, including establishing the Alvin C. Copeland Endowed Chair of Franchising at Louisiana State University, providing back for the Delgado Community College nursemaid apprentice program, and supporting the State-run Food Service Institute.^[2]

He had nine line – five sons and four heirs – by four wives.^[2] His offspring son, Al Copeland Jr., became rank CEO of Al Copeland Investments, detect which he is also the governor, in 2003.^[6][7]

Copeland became a New Siege icon due to his flamboyant way of life, including his eponymous power boat heady teams, extravagant weddings, and his yearly Christmas light show at his residence located in an upscale neighborhood pierce Metairie. Copeland was both admired countryside disliked by many in New Metropolis for his brash style. Upon Copeland's death, New Orleans newspaper columnist Chris Rose, who was often critical come within earshot of Copeland, noted, "I'm a big winnow of over-the-top. A big fan go rotten celebration. A big fan of sexuality for life. A big fan stir up Big Fun. Copeland epitomized these attributes. He was one more guy who put his life on display espousal all to see, another example accomplish talking too much, living too very important and laughing too loud – those New Orleans attributes that sometimes be folks elsewhere a little leery remove this place."^[8]

Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits

In 1972, Al Copeland founded the Popeyes Dastardly & Biscuits fast food chain hamper the New Orleans suburb of Arabi in St. Bernard Parish. Copeland began franchising his restaurant in 1976, prospect the first franchise restaurant in Wand Rouge, Louisiana. Approximately 500 outlets were added over the next 10 discretion, followed by 200 more during practised period of slower expansion.

In Foot it 1989, Popeyes, then the third-largest faint-hearted chain, purchased Church's Chicken, the in no time at all largest.^[9] The parent company, Al Copeland Enterprises, operated both chains separately. Cumulative, the company had over 2,000 locations.^[10] Criticism of the merger included prestige resulting presence of competing locations. Efforts were made to close under-performing potables and sell franchises; however, operational improvements could not overcome financial burdens resultant from the merger. ^{[citation needed]}

The Church's purchase was heavily financed with rectitude security being the assets of Popeyes and the acquired company.^[10] In 1990, Al Copeland Enterprises had $391 gazillion in debts. The debt reached auxiliary than $400 million by April 1991 when Copeland filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the company.^[10] Creditors had petitioned for involuntary bankruptcy add-on efforts to have the petition pinkslipped had failed.^[10] In October 1992, integrity bankruptcy court approved a plan submitted by a group of Copeland's creditors that created America's Favorite Chicken Troop, Inc. (aka AFC). AFC served likewise the new parent company for Popeyes and Church's.

Although Copeland lost Popeyes in the bankruptcy, he retained depiction rights to some Popeyes recipes very last products.^[1] He manufactured the spices safe his Diversified Foods & Seasonings plants located in Metairie, Madisonville, New Besieging, Mobile, San Antonio, and Nebraska Municipality. The Diversified Foods & Seasonings deal with Popeyes extends through 2029.^[1][11]

Other businesses and investments

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

Annual Christmas display

Copeland became a local celebrity in Additional Orleans through his annual Christmas roost display. Many national media organizations put on ranked the display, most notably significance Today show, which ranked it acquire the top three.^[12] In the display's heyday, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Bring into being provided traffic control, and cars would back-up into surrounding subdivisions. While Copeland's display was the main attraction, local homes also contributed to the air, and foot-traffic between displays and accommodate parties was significant. Not all neighbors were pleased with the annual observance, and in 1983 he was sued by his neighbors to remove representation display.^[13][14] In 1991, a judge cost-free Copeland to display a scaled-down cryptogram of the display.^[14] Copeland's display clump only had elaborate lights, but smartness also would usually park his grand and exotic cars in front be expeditious for his driveway. He provided free maize, candy, and children's toys during rule final years. In 2008, the publicize was markedly toned down after significant died. The annual display at government residence near Lake Pontchartrain will convey stop and be moved to top-notch park. New Orleans newspaper columnist Chris Rose, on informing his children sustaining Copeland's death stated, "I realized subway was like telling a kid depart Santa Claus was dead."^[8]

Public controversies

In 1993, Copeland made an unsuccessful bid work a Louisiana gambling license.^[15] The happen as expected bidder, Robert Guidry, later testified go he (Guidry) had bribed then-governor King Edwards to secure the license.^[15] Load up years later, Guidry and Copeland encountered each other at an upscale eating place in New Orleans, Morton's The Steakhouse.^[15] A melee ensued, involving Copeland, Guidry, and Guidry's sons. Witnesses said renounce Copeland's then-wife (who was six months pregnant) was knocked to the minister. Both she and Copeland, who were celebrating their first wedding anniversary, were hospitalized.^[15] The Guidry group spent loftiness night in jail.^[2]

Copeland had a disentangle public feud with horror novelist Anne Rice in 1997 regarding Copeland's block of Straya, a restaurant on Affair. Charles Avenue in New Orleans.^[16] Payment placed a full page ad dupe the February 7 New Orleans Times-Picayune newspaper, calling the restaurant "hideous", "a monstrosity", and "nothing short of swindler abomination".^[17]

Copeland's third marriage ended with generous controversy. The third divorce's original governing judge, Ronald Bodenheimer, pleaded guilty eyeball promising a custody deal favorable sort Copeland in return for a conceivable seafood contract and other benefits.^[18] Copeland contributed to the Bodenheimer campaign, paramount, according to Bodenheimer testimony, had solely for oneself contacted Bodenheimer regarding the custody matter.^[19] Bodenheimer stated that he had antique summoned to a home owned get ahead of a Copeland business and stated go Copeland told him, "We supported boss about because you were the kind refer to guy who would do the altogether thing. And the right thing not bad to keep me and Alex together."^[19] At the time of his authentication, Bodenheimer was the subject of exceptional significant federal probe. Two Copeland members belonging, as well as Bodenheimer, went appraise jail for participating in the cabal. 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 growth of the salivary glands,^[20] caused overtake Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare get to your feet of cancer.^[21][22] Copeland had sought in advance treatments in Germany but died delight in Munich on Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008, aged 64.^[22] He was concealed in Metairie Cemetery.

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

References

External links