STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Popeyes opened in the spring of 2023 and closed just before the new year, ending its brief stint on the Page Avenue corridor. New York City’s first Sonic Drive-In, at 148 Page Avenue—closed over the summer, leaving both buildings vacant on the corner. Popeyes did not respond to requests for comment.
According to the official Popeyes restaurant locator, there are three operating locations on Staten Island: 2655 Richmond Ave. in New Springville near the Mall, 2506 Hylan Blvd. in New Dorp, and 1351 Forest Ave. in Port Richmond. The Richmond Valley location has been removed from the map and the 2363 Forest Ave. location—previously shuttered after a landlord‑tenant dispute—is also no longer listed.
As the Richmond Valley location awaits its next chapter, the brand’s own history offers a reminder of its rapid rise. Popeyes traces its roots to New Orleans in 1972, when Al Copeland Sr. launched a small fried chicken shop called Chicken on the Run. According to the company’s history, after slow sales, he rebranded it as Popeyes, named after Popeye Doyle from The French Connection. The pivot paid off: by 1976, the company opened its first franchise and within nine years it had grown to 500 locations.
Meanwhile, its next‑door neighbor on Staten Island—New York City’s first Sonic Drive‑In, at 148 Page Avenue—closed over the summer after years of declining customer satisfaction and recent health inspection issues. Although the building was shuttered and covered in brown paper in August, a person affiliated with the restaurant said it was expected to reopen under the Sonic brand. The company did not respond to inquiries at the time. As of January, the site had not reopened and had fallen into disrepair, with garbage scattered across the property.
The location had a history of violations, including a 51-point inspection in 2024. Its most recent inspection, in July 2024, improved with a “B.” There was no indication the city had forced a permanent shutdown.
When Sonic opened in 2015—hailed by Eater.com as “way the hell out in Staten Island”—the corner drew major crowds for the borough’s first location, even though its debut had been delayed two years by construction stops, traffic studies, and required roadwork. Hiring was aggressive, with 100 to 150 positions advertised, including roller-skating carhops. Over time, enthusiasm waned, and online reviews cited long waits and incorrect orders…