Copeland?s Breaks Record with $4.1M

Although it has been open only since April 17, Copeland’s Famous New Orleans Restaurant and Bar in Rogers had sales of $4.1 million for 2002, said Paul Nelson, general manager of the restaurant.

That number appears to make Copeland’s the No. 1 restaurant in Northwest Arkansas — and possibly the entire state — in terms of gross sales.

Copeland’s sales exceeded Red Lobster in Fayetteville, which was No. 1 in that city with sales of $3.79 million for fiscal 2002 (which goes from December 2001 through November 2002 according to the city’s hotel-motel-restaurant tax collections).

Like many other cities in Arkansas, Springdale and Rogers don’t have sales taxes that apply specifically to restaurants, so sales numbers in those cities aren’t open to public inspection. But it’s not likely that anybody else in Northwest Arkansas can rival Copeland’s numbers for 2002, which we got from Nelson. The restaurant apparently did better in eight and a half months than its competition did in 12.

Nelson said he believes Copeland’s is the No. 1 restaurant in the state in terms of gross sales if only the last eight months of the 2002 are considered. Red Lobster in North Little Rock led the central Arkansas market with sales of $4.35 million for the entire year, but its sales would have been $3.5 million for the last eight months of 2002.

“We had some pretty high expectations when we came in,” Nelson said. “I didn’t know if we could compare to the Red Lobster down there in North Little Rock. They’ve been No. 1 forever.”

Nelson believes Copeland’s has a good shot at taking the No. 1 spot from the North Little Rock restaurant in 2003.

Nelson said the official honeymoon period (about four months for new restaurants) may be over, but Copeland’s is still posting strong sales figures. Copeland’s did $121,000 in sales the first week it was open and $505,000 in its first month, he said.

The 8,000-SF Rogers restaurant was No. 2 in sales in Copeland’s 44-store chain behind a Copeland’s in Jacksonville, Fla., Nelson said. The Rogers restaurant and bar can seat about 300 with another 50 in the courtyard.

Copeland’s Restaurant was founded in New Orleans by Al Copeland in 1983 and began franchising in late 1993.

The Rogers location is a franchise owned and operated by Cardinal Enterprises LLC, a group of Arkansas investors consisting of Joe and Jane Lisuzzo of Bella Vista, John Bliss of Fayetteville, Beau Beard of McGehee, and Joe and Jackie Muha of Bella Vista.

Slim Chicken’s to Open Feb. 17

Three Fayetteville men plan to open Arkansas’ first fast-food chicken-strip restaurant on Feb. 17 in Fayetteville.

Tom Gordon, Ryan Hodson and Greg Smart are partners in Slim Chicken’s, which will occupy the building at 2120 N. College Ave. that was previously home to Sake Express.

Hodson and Smart were owners of Ripple Outfitters, a Fayetteville sporting goods store that closed on Feb. 1.

Gordon previously worked for Macaroni Grill in Little Rock and the Saddle Ranch Chop House in Los Angeles.

The three owners are originally from Little Rock. Gordon said he has been in Fayetteville for the past year scouting locations for the new restaurant.

He said Slim Chicken’s will serve only fresh (never frozen) chicken tenders and wings. The chicken strips will be available either fried or air baked in four flavors: lemon pepper, teriyaki, regular and “on fire” hot. Diners also can choose from four sauces. A chicken tender wrap and sandwich will also be on the menu.

The restaurant will serve circular-cut french fries as a side item. Gordon said the average ticket price per meal will be $6.50.

The 1,700-SF building can seat 35 diners inside and another 20 or 25 outside on a front deck. Gordon said he plans to hire about 25 employees.

Petra Cafe to Open Feb. 3

Saleh Faur plans to open Petra Cafe on Feb. 3 at 31 E. Center St. in Fayetteville. The 458-SF space was previously home to Jennianne’s on Center.

Faur said the restaurant will be open for breakfast and lunch initially. For breakfast, he will serve pastries, bagels, and biscuits and gravy. For lunch, Petra Cafe will offer soups, sandwiches and plate lunches, often with a Mediterranean theme.

Faur said the restaurant will seat 14.

For 10 years, Faur owned Petra Stop, a convenience store at 1431 S. School St. in Fayetteville. The convenience store also had a delicatessen. Faur sold that business in June.