Copeland?s Set to Break State Sales Record

Joe Lisuzzo, one of the owners of Copeland’s Famous New Orleans Restaurant and Bar in Rogers, said the restaurant will have about $5.3 million in sales this year. That would likely make it the No. 1 restaurant in Arkansas in gross sales.r

After opening on April 17, 2002, Copeland’s did $4.1 million in sales during the remaining eight and a half months of 2002.r

Red Lobster in North Little Rock led the central Arkansas market with sales of $4.35 million for the 12 months of 2002.r

Lisuzzo said the Rogers restaurant received two awards this year from the New Orleans-based corporate office: “rookie of the year” and “highest volume ever in the history of the company.”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, Beau and Shea Beard of Fayetteville, and Joe and Jackie Muha of Bella Vista. John Bliss of Fayetteville is selling his part of the business to the other partners.r

In addition to booming sales year-round, Copeland’s sold 300 turkeys the two days before Thanksgiving. Lisuzzo said he plans to sell another 300 by Christmas. The Cajun deep-fried turkeys sold for $40 each. Entire Thanksgiving meals including a turkey sold for $70.r