LEWIS CENTER, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Lewis Center site once home to a Wendy's and Tim Hortons and then left abandoned has finally found a new tenant.
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen soft opened its new restaurant at 9037 Owenfield Drive earlier this month, and will officially welcome chicken sandwich enthusiasts with a grand-opening celebration on May 9. The site is operated by the Gilligan Company, a Cincinnati-based franchisee that owns an array of chain restaurants in Ohio.
The Popeyes was built from scratch after the building housing a combination Wendy's and Tim Hortons was demolished. Wendy's and Tim Hortons had closed several years before the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving the structure abandoned for several years.
Gilligan's new Popeyes comes after the company opened another location last year at 9980 Johnstown Road in New Albany, with a third new restaurant planned for 7072 Sawmill Road near Dublin. The new locations add to Gilligan's other Popeyes near Cincinnati and in Indiana.
Gilligan also operates a series of Dunkin's locations in central Ohio, including the company's former Subway location at 1576 W. 5th Avenue near Grandview which was transformed into a Dunkin' several years ago. The company still owns a few central Ohio subway locations, along with several convenience stores and gas stations.
Popeyes is just one of several new food offerings to open in Lewis Center, including a shop boasted as Ohio's "biggest coffeehouse." Named Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co., the Michigan-based brand is now welcoming patrons to the new shop at 8911 S. Old State Road near Polaris Fashion Place.
In addition, a Columbus restaurateur who owns a trio of Asian fusion eateries in central Ohio is expanding with a new create-your-own stir fry restaurant in Lewis Center. WY Mongolian Grill is opening this spring at 833 Columbus Pike, taking over a 6,000-square-foot building previously home to Asian Garden Buffet.
Lewis Center's new Popeyes is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
