BY SARAH STEPHENS
PHOTOS BY DONOVAN TAYLOR
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
Millbrook Area Chamber of Commerce President Jamie Brown welcomed everyone to the official ribbon cutting of Popeyes in Millbrook Thursday with great enthusiasm.
“We are so excited again to welcome another great business to the Millbrook Community,” Brown said. “To the Popeyes team, we just want you to know you have great support from the city as well as the Chamber.”
Millbrook Mayor Al Kelley also welcomed the business to the city, saying this has been a work in progress, and a much-awaited event.
“We have been looking forward to this for a long time. We have been talking about this for a long time. It takes a while to get things rolling sometimes. But we have a great relationship with Popeyes, and we wish them great success here,” Mayor Kelley said.
Tony Mierholtz, of Prattville, is the Director of Operations for Popeyes, and said he is very happy to have the store open, and the crew working hard.
Mierholtz’ family is very familiar with the food industry, as his wife is the Manager of Sonic in Millbrook.
Mayor Kelley presented Mierholtz with a Millbrook coin for his collection, representing Millbrook’s 25th anniversary. He also presented him with a City of Millbrook lapel pin. Attendees were introduced to the staff which will “run the show” and told that there will be an open ear for any concerns or questions from the community.
There have been challenges with the COVID-Pandemic in getting the store operational. There were also issues with construction that delayed the opening. But on Thursday everyone was all smiles, and eager to try some Popeyes goodness.
Food service actually began at 11 a.m.
“There is a lot going on right now, and Millbrook is growing,” Mayor Kelley said. “This is another opportunity for the city, and we hope to have more announcements very soon about more growth.”
Kelley said this particular is drawing interest “almost daily” from potential new businesses. There are over 80 acres behind Popeyes and along I-65 within city limits that is set for future development. Add to that the construction set to begin this on Phase 1 of The Fields at 17 Springs which will adjoin property owned by the Grandview Family YMCA.
Just as the crowd was dispersing a package came, which was an American Flag. It was immediately placed on the flagpole by employees and will proudly wave at the store.
The store is located off of Hwy. 14 next to Taco Bell.
Popeyes was originally founded in 1982 by Al Copeland in Arabi, Louisiana, near New Orleans.
For more information, visit the website at popeyes.com for special offers and deals in our area.
