Copeland?s Drops to No. 2 with $3.8M

Copeland’s Famous New Orleans Restaurant in Rogers had $3.8 million in food sales last year, said Joe Lisuzzo, one of the owners. That’s an 8.6 percent drop from $4.2 million in 2004.

Since opening in April 2002, Copeland’s has been No. 1 in food sales in Northwest Arkansas and near the top statewide.

But the decline last year means The Olive Garden in Fayetteville was Northwest Arkansas’ leading restaurant with $4.1 million in food sales. (Fayetteville’s top 10 restaurants were listed in our Jan. 16 issue.)

The Red Lobster in North Little Rock apparently led the state again with $4.9 million in food sales last year. In 2004, that Red Lobster was No. 1 in Arkansas with $4.6 million.

Lisuzzo said Copeland’s grossed $4.8 million last year counting alcohol sales. Sales of alcohol accounted for about 20 percent of Copeland’s annual totals, Lisuzzo said.

Copeland’s had total sales, including alcohol, of $5.2 million in 2003 and again in 2004.

The Olive Garden’s 2005 number reflected a 3.8 percent increase over 2004.

Copeland’s 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, which consist of Joe and Jane Lisuzzo of Bella Vista, Beau and Shea Beard of Fayetteville and Joe and Jackie Muha of Bella Vista.