Chook Me! - Why is Popeyes Chicken named after Popeye Doyle from The French Connection?

Why is Popeyes Chicken named after Popeye Doyle from The French Connection?

If you've been anywhere near Popeyes Chicken on the internet, you know that Al Copeland, the founder, named his Louisiana style chicken restaurants after Detective Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle, a character in the movie The French Connection, starring Gene Hackman as Doyle. What I want to know (and cannot find) is WHY he chose the name of a movie character for the name of his restaurants. Did the character Jimmy Doyle especially like spicy fried chicken? Was it his dream to retire and open a chicken stand? Was he originally from New Orleans? I have to admit, as much as I like Gene Hackman, I have never seen the movie. After doing some more research, i finally found out that Al Copeland's greatest love (aside from making tons of money and great chicken) was speed. He was an avid speed boater and loved fast cars. He must have also admired the car chase scene in The French Connection, and Popeye Doyle's driving ability, so named his restaurant chain after him. After all, the motto for Copeland's first chicken restaurant was, "So fast, you get your chicken before you get your change". Thanks, Serialmom. Since you were the closest to the correct answer, you get the B.A. for this one!

Public Comments

AWSOME! I don't know ,but that is awsome.
not sure why they named it after him, but you MUST see the movie, it's awesome. It has one of the best chase scenes ever made!!
Excellent question. I've seen the movie and it is fantastic. But I do not remember a New Orleans connection or anything that would point to why Al Copeland chose Popeye's. You should go to the Popeye's site and ask corporate. Its a great question. I bet they'd answer.
Because Popeye the Sailorman is associated with spinach, not chicken. There was probably some reference to chicken in the movie, but I don't really know, I didn't see the movie. Popeye the cartoon is SO associated with spinach anything else wouldn't make sense to the customers.
I thought it was named after Popeye the Sailorman