McHenry mayor: Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen to open in vacant Arby's building

McHenry soon will be home to a third Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen in McHenry County, Mayor Wayne Jett said.

The fried chicken chain plans to open in the former Arby’s building at 1800 N. Richmond Road.

“I want to thank staff who continues to work hard every day to fill these vacant properties,” he said in a statement on social media. “There is much more to do, but I believe we are continuing to head in the right direction.”

Arby's closed more than a year ago, and the space has been vacant since. In January 2018, Jett said McHenry's Panera, 1711 N. Richmond Road across the street from the building, planned to relocate to the Arby's property and add a drive-thru, but the plan never came to fruition.

Popeyes was founded in 1972 and now has thousands of restaurants around the world, according to its website.

The chain is known for its fried chicken and buttermilk biscuits, but also serves fried fish and shrimp, sandwiches and wraps, and a variety of southern-style side dishes, such as Cajun rice and jambalaya.

A timeline for the restaurant’s McHenry opening has not been announced.