Construction Has Begun For Lewiston, Maine’s Popeye’s

When Popeye's Louisiana Kitchen opened their first two stores in Maine at the Maine Turnpike Kenneubnk and Gardiner rest stops, I wondered, "Is this chicken place named after Popeye the Sailor Man?"

Origin of the Popeye's Name

Turns out, it wasn't. According to Wikipedia, founder Alvin C. Copeland says he named the restaurant after the fictional detective Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle, who Gene Hackman played in The French Connection. That explains why I never saw Popeye on the walls when I ordered a chicken sandwich.

Copeland went on to create a franchise that is now in the middle of a growth spurt. As of June 2024, there are 3,138 Popeyes restaurants in the United States, with plans to open an additional 800 by 2028. One of those locations is coming to Lewiston, Maine.

Three Popeye's in Maine and Fourth On the Way

There are currently three Popeyes stores in Maine. Two are Maine Turnpike rest stops in Kennebunk, one is in South Portland across from the Maine Mall, and the Lewiston location will be the fourth.

A Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is now under construction at 841 Lisbon St. in Lewiston, within the footprint of Gendron Place which many will remember as the old Promenade Mall.

READ MORE: The Promenade Mall In Lewiston Is Officially No More

It's being built on the former site of a Mobil gas station, directly across from Papa Johns.

Lewiston approved a construction permit for the building, which looks similar to the Popeyes in South Portland.

When Does Popeye's Open in Lewiston?

RNS Fabrication & Welding out of Turner is currently welding the columns for the new restaurant, so there's still a lot of work to be done.

The Sun Journal said back in August that it will likely be at least a year until they're ready to serve that delicious chicken, so hang tight and keep an eye on that spot. Popeyes is coming.