Copeland's
Encyclopedia
Chain store
Chain stores are retail outlets that share a brand and central management, and usually have standardized business methods and practices. These characteristics also apply to chain restaurants and some service-oriented chain businesses. In retail, dining and many service categories, chain businesses...
started by New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
native Al Copeland
Al Copeland
Alvin Charles "Al" Copeland was an American entrepreneur who created the Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits fast food chain. He was also a successful restaurateur who created many successful upscale restaurants.-Personal life:...
in 1983. It offers New Orleans-style cuisine and a casual sit-down family friendly atmosphere. Significantly expanding in 1990s, it claimed more than 40 locations in 12 states and offered a "steakhouse"-style expanded menu by 2004. It then significantly retracted over the next few years, closing half their restaurants with only 20 locations remaining in eight states, with over half of their locations in Louisiana. The following years showed expansion into North into Maryland and West into Texas while adding the Copeland's Cheesecake Bistro, Fire and Ice restaurants, and Al's Diversified Food & Seasonings - a line of specialty foods and spices for large national restaurant chains.
Alvin C. Copeland
Al CopelandAl Copeland
Alvin Charles "Al" Copeland was an American entrepreneur who created the Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits fast food chain. He was also a successful restaurateur who created many successful upscale restaurants.-Personal life:...
(February 2, 1944—March 23, 2008) was an American Louisianan raised entrepreneur who is first and foremost known for founding Popeyes Chicken and Biscuits in Arabi, Louisiana in 1972. Al Copeland has also built up Al Copeland Investments which owns and operates a wide variety of concepts including restaurants such as Copeland's of New Orleans, Copeland's Cheesecake Bistro, and Copeland's Social City Bistro. ACI also operates a number of hotels in the New Orleans area including: Best Western French Quarter, Best Western Landmark, and Garden District. Food Service Plants and Comedy Clubs are also enterprises owned by ACI.
Menu
Copeland's Restaurant Menu items include French and Cajun inspired dishes that include a focused number of steak and seafood dish specialties. It also offers a special Sunday Brunch menu. It enjoys a broad spectrum of diners at every range of the demographic. Full of flavor, the absolute freshest ingredients, and exquisite dishes from its sleek contemporary kitchens, it has always been on the leading edge of authentic and superlative cuisine. Popular dishes include Eggplant Pirogue, Veal Copeland, and Jambalaya Pasta among other classic Copeland concotions. There are also classic New Orleans dishes such as crawfish etouffee and shrimp Creole.The steaks served by Copeland's are obtained from the same supplier that supplies Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, and are prepared and served similarly (1800 degree oven; 500 degree plate with garlic butter).
Recently, many Copeland's restaurants have started to specialize in particular styles of food, while some remain unchanged.