The City of Oswego welcomed a new Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen to the east side of the city with a grand opening celebration on Sept. 19.
The event began at 10 a.m. when the restaurant opened and featured raffles and a ribbon cutting ceremony, which Oswego Mayor Billy Barlow and other city officials attended. Barlow said the addition of Popeyes in Oswego is a good sign as to where the city is heading.
“It really speaks to where the city is moving,” Barlow said. “People are interested in investing here whereas five or ten years ago, businesses were closing their doors.”
Taylor Davis, the member engagement and operations coordinator for the chamber of commerce, agreed with Barlow, saying that the more businesses that come into the city, the more people will follow.
“Anytime you bring a business in, you bring in jobs,” Davis said. “It’s also about making [Oswego] a destination. Within the last few years, there have been so many more businesses coming into Oswego and the more successful businesses the more it becomes a destination for other people.”
Along with the addition of jobs to the community, the new restaurant also provides more meal options for city residents and SUNY Oswego students alike.
Claire Bosley, a student at SUNY Oswego, said she is happy that more businesses are coming to the city because there are more choices for those who have to cook for themselves every day.
“It’s at least another option … for when you don’t want to cook, especially because I don’t have a meal plan,” Bosley said.
Popeyes is located next to the Big Lots and across Route 104 from Taco Bell, and though it is surrounded by other restaurants, Davis said there is no concern about rivalries between the businesses.
“I don’t ever think of it as competition for others,” Davis said. “It’s a boost to the community, so anytime there is a successful business, it’s good.”
As a new place for residents and students to venture to, Barlow said the Popeyes, though a small addition to the city, will add greatly to its value overall.
“It’s all about giving people more options because that all plays into the decision of where people want to live,” Barlow said. “For so long we’ve heard Oswego only has a movie theater, a bowling alley and a couple restaurants and if you diversify options … it makes Oswego a more attractive place.”
Popeyes is owned and operated by Liberty Restaurants of Syracuse LLC, which is part of Liberty Restaurants Holdings headquartered in New York City. The company is led by Franchisee Laddi Singh and his brother Rana Kaknia, and has multiple locations across Connecticut, New York, and Pennsylvania, according to a press release.
The restaurant has already given back to the community by donating lunch to the City of Oswego Fire Department and Oswego Health during their grand opening. Liberty Restaurants Holdings also made a $1,000 donation to the Children’s Museum of Oswego.
“This has been a true labor of love for us, to be working on this project and we’re so happy to be serving your community,” said Josh Frankel, vice president of operations for Liberty Restaurants Holdings. “We’re very happy to be making a special $1,000 donation on behalf of Laddi Singh, Rana Kaknia, and the rest of the Liberty Restaurants Holdings company.”
Popeyes is now open 10:30 a.m. to 12 a.m., seven days a week at 240 NY-104, Oswego, NY 13126.
Photo via Annika Wickham
