Readers want to know why construction seems to have stopped on this fast food restaurant

The Popeyes restaurant that had operated for years at 1211 N. Broadway closed at the end of last year but was supposed to relocate to the old Hardee’s building at 2053 N. Amidon.

Construction on the new space started not long after. But recently, many readers have noticed, it seems to have come to a halt, and they want to know if the plans for the Popeyes in New Leaf Plaza are still on.

This week, I reached Abdul Hamideh, the franchisee who owns that Popeyes as well as the ones at 3131 N. Rock Road, 1623 S. Seneca, 4232 W. Central and 1350 N. Hillside. (Different franchisees — Mitesh Patel and his son, Sumit Patel of Mid-CHKN LLC — own the new Popeyes at 29th and Maize Road).

He said that Popeyes will still open in the space but that he’s waiting on some equipment to arrive and can’t continue without it. He did not, however, have a time frame for when the relocated restaurant would open other than to say that it will be this year.

The Popeyes that closed on North Broadway had operated at that address since 1986. It was the second fast-food restaurant on North Broadway to close within a couple of months last year: The McDonald’s that had operated just a couple of blocks to the south for 60 years closed on Halloween , and that now-vacant building, which is at 1050 N. Broadway, has for-lease signs in front of it now.