Copeland?s on Track for $5.2 Million in 2003 Sales

Paul Nelson, general manager of Copeland’s Famous New Orleans Restaurant and Bar in Rogers said the restaurant is on track to gross $5.2 million to $5.3 million in sales this year. That would make it Northwest Arkansas’ No. 1 restaurant in sales by more than $1 million a year.r

Nelson said August sales were 5.2 percent more than August 2002. The restaurant opened April 17, 2002, and brought in $4.1 million during the eight and a half months of 2002 that it was open.r

The Olive Garden led Fayetteville restaurants with $2.1 million in sales for the first half of this year. If that trend continues, it will bring in $4.2 million for the entire fiscal year. Olive Garden is owned by Darden Restaurants Inc. of Orlando, Fla. Red Lobster, which is also owned by Darden, led in Fayetteville last year with sales of $3.79 million. The Olive Garden opened in Fayetteville’s CMN Business Park in December.r

If Nelson’s prediction is correct, Copeland’s may be the No. 1 restaurant in the state in terms of gross sales this year.r

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.r

Red Lobster in North Little Rock led the central Arkansas market with sales of $4.35 million for 2002.r

Nelson said Copeland’s honeymoon period ended in July 2002, but sales have remained strong since then.r

The 8,000-SF Copeland’s in Rogers can seat about 300 in the restaurant and bar with another 50 in the courtyard.r

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

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 and Shea Beard of Springdale, and Joe and Jackie Muha of Bella Vista.