MACON, Ga. — In May, 13WMAZ reported that over a dozen Popeyes locations in Central Georgia were closing. Now, we also know why.
According to federal court documents in Florida, it was a massive deal gone wrong between two corporations.
The original owners out of Florida, Sailormen, Inc., were selling the franchises to a Wyoming-based company, Tar Heels Spice Inc.
In the lawsuit, Sailormen says the buyer agreed to pay rent and other costs before the deal closed.
The lawsuit says Tar Heels put aside $1 million to cover those costs. But Sailormen says the Tar Heels didn't give them access to those funds so they couldn't pay the rent, and they claim Tar Heels used some of that money for other purposes.
While Sailormen claimed they covered the rent for four months when Tar Heels was supposed to, when April 2024 came around, they stopped making rent payments.
The deal apparently fell through, leaving Central Georgia chicken fans craving those spicy sandwiches.
Matis Rodrigues works across the street from the Popeyes on Mercer University Drive. He says he's a former customer and says the store was busy.
"A lot of my customers ask me too, 'When are they going to come back? Are they going to come back?'" Rodrigues said. "I think the neighborhood enjoyed this location especially because there's a lot of apartments around here. They could easily walk and it's easily accessible to anybody who doesn't drive."
Frederico McRary lives behind the Popeyes on Mercer University Drive. He also questioned why the only chicken spot near him left.
"They had some good chicken, though," McRary said. "I don't know why they closed."
Other locations that closed were in Warner Robins, Milledgeville, Byron, Cochran, Vidalia, Gray, Sandersville and Dublin. Rodrigues says owning a restaurant comes with a lot of obstacles.
"The restaurant business is a real challenging business," Rodrigues said. "Even though it's a franchise, it's still a tough business."
Rodrigues says he liked the employees at Popeyes more than the chicken, but says the Mercer University Drive location was always busy. Now it's locked doors, no chicken, and overgrown weeds.
"At least cut the grass. We all know it's shut down already," Rodrigues said. "At least maintain the front side. Don't make it look like it's abandoned."
In the lawsuit, Sailormen wants to take the franchise back from Tar Heels, but the Wyoming-based company is not cooperating.
13WMAZ reached out to both corporations for comment and have not heard back.
The court documents mention the following locations:
- All the locations in Macon
- Warner Robins (except the location at the Air Force base)
- Perry
- Milledgeville
- Byron
- Eastman
- Cochran
- Forsyth
- Vidalia
- Gray
- Dublin
- Sandersville