European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 16, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A amps photos by Dave Casey things can Gat a bit hectic during the noon hour Rush at the Popeye a restaurant in Frankfurt Germany. Popeye s flexes its Muscles in Europe five restaurants in business six More in the works by Chuck Roberts staff writer l Copeland liked his mamas Fried Chicken so much that he opened a restaurant. Now 780 restaurants later Popeye s spicy a Chicken is 50 popular that Copeland keeps mama s recipe under lock and key. The secret is divided among a handful of people who would Combine their portions of the recipe should something happen to Copeland. In some ways production of Popeye s Chicken is similar to that of a top secret weapon. To prevent duplication by enemy agents the ingredients Are produced by different companies and sent separately to the restaurants for preparation. No the restaurants Are not named after the Popeye of cartoon Fame at least not directly. Copeland named the restaurant after Popeye Doyle a favorite of his from the movie the French connection. But so Many people assumed that the name was based on the Quot Sailor Man Quot that Copeland eventually negotiated a Deal with the tune town folks so he could use the cartoon logo. Five of those 780 restaurants Are at military installations in Europe and there Are plans for six More said Richard sheff chief of the food Branch for the army and air Force Exchange service in Europe. Today there Are Popeye s restaurants in Frankfurt Heidelberg Schweinfurt and Wiesbaden in Germany and at Lakenheath in England. The first to open was in Schweinfurt last year. More Are under construction in Hohenfels and Ramstein under design in Wurzburg and under consideration for three other Sites. At installations where a Popeye s restaurant can to be placed because of logistical reasons such As a Lack of space cafes is placing its own version of Popeye s called the Chicken loft. The first Chicken loft is in Hanau Germany and others Ore being planned sheff said. Cafes operates the restaurants and pays Popeye s about 4 percent of the receipts in Exchange for the franchise rights. Half of the proceeds go to the military morale welfare and recreation coffers and the other half is spent on capital expenditures such As building improvements. In the United states the average Popeye s pulls in revenues of $668,500 a year. In Europe though the average will be about to million sheff said that s double what cafes had projected he said. Part of that Success can be attributed to a certain mystique Popeye shares with regional companies such As Coors brewery sheff said. Popeye a restaurants Are found in Only certain parts of the country and although most people have heard of it Many have not had a Chance to try it. At the annual restaurant convention in Chicago the Popeye s Booth routinely has the longest line of people wanting to test taste Popeye s spicy Chicken sheff said. Certainly the Lack of fast food Competition is another Factor. The Only other american fast food Chain operating on military installations overseas is Burger King. So far Popeye s has been immune to the effects of the draw Down. To minimize the Impact of base closures cafes and Popeye s developed a transportable restaurant building that can be broken Down and relocated. The restaurants arrive in Europe in pieces that Are bolted together like a Puzzle sheff said the Popeye s buildings in Schweinfurt and Heidelberg Are smaller than the others because they were supposed to be shipped to saudi Arabia during the persian Gulf War. When the War ended before that could happen the structures found different Homes. Despite the size limitations they have one advantage air conditioners equipped to Battle the arabian heat. Popeye a is s popular lunch Stop for the Frankfurt High school set. Marl bet Pomales above and left Frankfurt scoops up Popeye a Fries appreciated by those who like food that bites Back. Comparing prices Popeye a three piece dinner and one drink is Vij sir $5.30 Kentucky Fried Chicken three piece do 11.so dimm m end one drink w Burger King whopper. Irm. A a a end one drink $4.00 Robin Hood Sandwich Sandwich and one drink $4.95 Anthonys Plaza two slices of Pirn and one drink $4.30 priced in Darmstadt Germany <1 1.5som Sis fast food Chain i hit with military folks though some complain about prices by Chuck Roberts staff writer Popeye s Chicken eateries the latest bit of fast food americana to reach the military Community in Europe Are being greeted by Long lines and generally satisfied customers Quot super Quot said Brenda Mixon a government employee in Heidelberg Germany who describes herself As a Chicken addict. Quot feat Chicken All the time Quot said Mixon who has lunched at Popeye s nearly every Day since it opened in Heidelberg aug. 24. Although some customers balk at the prices Mixon does not. She gladly pays $5 for two pieces of Chicken a medium soda and a piece of Apple pie. Quot you can t beat that Quot she said. Spicy Fried Chicken and Down Home biscuits Are the Staples of Popeye s cajun cuisine. But done to let the word spicy scare you. If you re a Glutton for food that brings tears to your eyes you will be disappointed. But for most tastes the food is spicy enough Only to require a few More sips of soda. Quot it s a Good change from Burger King Quot said sol. 1st class Rafael Gonzales As he waited in a Long line at the outside order window in Heidelberg. Gonzales said Popeye a Chicken is a taste of Home though the Cost prevents him from walking memory Lane too often Quot its expensive Quot said Gonzales who is an Insp Clor general staffer with 7lh medical come. Quot that s Why i Don t eat Here All that often. I m glad they to Here though Quot his three piece meal and a medium drink costs $5 35. That s about a Dollar More than a whopper trios and a drink at Burger King or two pieces of pizza and a drink at Anthonys pizza. Service and selection varies at different Popeye s restaurants. In Frankfurt customers pour their own drinks and Are allowed free refills. Drinks Are poured for you in Heidelberg and there Are no free refills at some locations meals include a biscuit and a Choice of cajun Fries thick and delicious mashed potatoes and Gravy cajun Rice or red Beans and Rice elsewhere the options Are limited. In most places customers have a Choice of regular or spicy Chicken but Only one kind is sold in Heidelberg Gonzales Calls the single selection a blend of the two available elsewhere a version he suggests could be called Specular or Ricy. Also mashed potatoes Aren t sold in Heidelberg which would be a hard Pill to Swallow for James Tatum a customer at the Frankfurt Popeye s who loves his Masheck potatoes and could eat the biscuits Quot All Day  Page 14 the stars and stripes monday november 16, 1992 the stars and stripes Page 15