240:, pleaded guilty to promising a custody deal favorable to Copeland in return for a possible seafood contract and other benefits. Copeland contributed to the Bodenheimer campaign, and, according to Bodenheimer testimony, had personally contacted Bodenheimer regarding the custody matter. Bodenheimer stated that he had been summoned to a home owned by a Copeland business and stated that Copeland told him, "We supported you because you were the kind of guy who would do the right thing. And the right thing is to keep me and Alex together." At the time of his testimony, Bodenheimer was the subject of a significant federal probe. Two Copeland associates, as well as Bodenheimer, went to jail for participating in the conspiracy. Other than the Bodenheimer testimony, Copeland was never personally accused of participating.
84:. Copeland was both admired and disliked by many in New Orleans for his brash style. Upon Copeland's death, New Orleans newspaper columnist Chris Rose, who was often critical of Copeland, noted, "I'm a big fan of over-the-top. A big fan of celebration. A big fan of lust for life. A big fan of Big Fun. Copeland epitomized these things. He was one more guy who put his life on display for all to see, another example of talking too much, living too large and laughing too loud – those New Orleans attributes that sometimes make folks elsewhere a little leery of this place."
197:
pleased with the annual festivities, and in 1983 he was sued by his neighbors to remove the display. In 1991, a judge permitted
Copeland to display a scaled-down version of the display. Copeland's display not only had elaborate lights, but he also would usually park his luxurious and exotic cars in front of his driveway. He provided free popcorn, candy, and children's toys during his final years. In 2008, the display was markedly toned down after he died. The annual display at his residence near
873:
123:
company. Creditors had petitioned for involuntary bankruptcy and efforts to have the petition dismissed had failed. In
October 1992, the bankruptcy court approved a plan submitted by a group of Copeland's creditors that created America's Favorite Chicken Company, Inc. (aka AFC). AFC served as the new parent company for Popeyes and Church's.
119:, operated both chains separately. Combined, the company had over 2,000 locations. Criticism of the merger included the resulting presence of competing locations. Efforts were made to close under-performing stores and sell franchises; however, operational improvements could not overcome financial burdens resulting from the merger.
218:. A melee ensued, involving Copeland, Guidry, and Guidry's sons. Witnesses said that Copeland's then-wife (who was six months pregnant) was knocked to the ground. Both she and Copeland, who were celebrating their first wedding anniversary, were hospitalized. The Guidry group spent the night in jail.
196:
Sheriff's Office provided traffic control, and cars would back-up into surrounding subdivisions. While
Copeland's display was the main attraction, surrounding homes also contributed to the atmosphere, and foot-traffic between displays and neighborhood parties was significant. Not all neighbors were
122:
The Church's purchase was heavily financed with the security being the assets of
Popeyes and the acquired company. In 1990, Al Copeland Enterprises had $ 391 million in debts. The debt reached more than $ 400 million by April 1991 when Copeland filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the
267:
In 2008 the Al
Copeland Foundation was established under his name. It provides cancer services primarily at Louisiana State University (LSU) and established the Al Copeland/Cancer Crusaders Endowed chair in Endocrine Cancer at LSU in 2011.
54:
and then for Tastee Donut, a doughnut chain partially owned by his brother, Gil. At 18, Copeland sold his car to purchase one doughnut location from his brother. This experience exposed him to the restaurant business and
533:
201:
will now stop and be moved to a park. New
Orleans newspaper columnist Chris Rose, on informing his children of Copeland's death stated, "I realized it was like telling a kid that Santa Claus was dead."
73:
He had nine children – five sons and four daughters – by four wives. His eldest son, Al
Copeland Jr., became the CEO of Al Copeland Investments, of which he is also the chairman, in 2003.
127:
163:
42:. Copeland's father left the family shortly after Alvin ("Al"), the youngest of three sons, was born. Copeland did not complete high school, having left at 16, and worked at
210:
In 1993, Copeland made an unsuccessful bid for a
Louisiana gambling license. The successful bidder, Robert Guidry, later testified that he (Guidry) had bribed then-governor
62:
While
Copeland never completed high school, he used his wealth to benefit education programs, including establishing the Alvin C. Copeland Endowed Chair of Franchising at
186:
Copeland became a local celebrity in New
Orleans through his annual Christmas light display. Many national media organizations have ranked the display, most notably the
739:
543:
330:
699:
126:
Although Copeland lost Popeyes in the bankruptcy, he retained the rights to some Popeyes recipes and products. He manufactured the spices through his
392:
167:
765:
1019:
999:
1004:
292:
979:
685:
Ruggless, Ron (February 24, 1997). "Copeland Vampire novelist Rice sinks fangs into Copeland's Straya". Nation's Restaurant News.
994:
798:
743:
43:
214:
to secure the license. Eight years later, Guidry and Copeland encountered each other at an upscale restaurant in New Orleans,
1014:
1009:
80:
racing teams, extravagant weddings, and his annual Christmas light show at his mansion located in an upscale neighborhood in
671:
108:. Approximately 500 outlets were added over the next 10 years, followed by 200 more during a period of slower expansion.
989:
984:
591:
418:
352:
974:
326:
444:
101:
93:
236:
Copeland's third marriage ended with significant controversy. The third divorce's original presiding judge,
703:
396:
26:
fast food chain. He was also a successful restaurateur who created many successful upscale restaurants.
230:
215:
63:
469:
773:
510:
233:
newspaper, calling the restaurant "hideous", "a monstrosity", and "nothing short of an abomination".
67:
248:
In December 2007, Copeland began treatment for a malignant tumor of the salivary glands, caused by
649:
147:
135:
538:
105:
104:. Copeland began franchising his restaurant in 1976, opening the first franchise restaurant in
39:
565:
47:
846:
380:
252:, a rare form of cancer. Copeland had sought experimental treatments in Germany but died in
76:
Copeland became a New Orleans icon due to his flamboyant lifestyle, including his eponymous
969:
964:
8:
188:
131:
112:
38:, Louisiana, Copeland had a humble beginning with his family living at one point in the
249:
237:
226:
198:
261:
150:. The Diversified Foods & Seasonings contract with Popeyes extends through 2029.
802:
878:
728:"Ailing Copeland still lights up the block". The Times-Picayune. December 24, 2007.
193:
97:
534:"Popeyes Buys Its Recipes for $ 43 Million. Wait, Popeyes Didn't Own Its Recipes?"
620:
139:
22:(February 2, 1944 – March 23, 2008) was an American entrepreneur who founded the
887:
824:
958:
769:
257:
211:
159:
70:
chef apprentice program, and supporting the National Food Service Institute.
920:
891:
422:
143:
56:
35:
940:
650:"Popeye's Chicken king allegedly beaten in steak house brawl with rival"
111:
In March 1989, Popeyes, then the third-largest chicken chain, purchased
915:
175:
171:
77:
945:
470:"Chris Rose: Al Copeland's over-the-top life perfect for his hometown"
930:
222:
192:
show, which ranked it in the top three. In the display's heyday, the
51:
293:"Al Copeland, a Restaurateur Known for Spice and Speed, Dies at 64"
81:
23:
225:
in 1997 regarding Copeland's opening of Straya, a restaurant on
949:
253:
925:
229:
in New Orleans. Rice placed a full page ad in the February 7
910:
905:
381:
Church's Chicken: Information and Much More from Answers.com
935:
490:
742:. The Times-Picayune. December 8, 2007. Archived from
702:. The Times-Picayune. November 6, 2007. Archived from
615:
613:
504:
502:
500:
498:
644:
642:
640:
638:
376:
374:
221:
Copeland had a very public feud with horror novelist
868:
723:
721:
158:
Copeland owned several restaurant chains, including
694:
692:
610:
495:
353:"Katrina stunned Popeyes, worker, but both rebound"
153:
635:
371:
718:
472:. New Orleans Times-Picayune blog. March 26, 2008
464:
462:
170:, Straya, and Copeland's Social City, as well as
87:
956:
689:
321:
319:
317:
315:
313:
459:
445:"Al Copeland Jr.: From the Shadow of a Legend"
286:
284:
282:
280:
936:Popeyes Chicken and Biscuits official website
678:
511:"Copeland files Ch. 11 for Popeyes, Church's"
243:
96:fast food chain in the New Orleans suburb of
310:
260:, March 23, 2008, aged 64. He was buried in
621:"Copeland's Christmas spectacle is back on"
277:
181:
849:. Al Copeland Foundation. October 13, 2021
592:"Neighbors Lose Suit On Christmas Display"
115:, the second largest. The parent company,
827:. Al Copeland Foundation. August 17, 2021
421:. Al Copeland Investments. Archived from
801:. Al Copeland Foundation. Archived from
684:
793:
791:
623:. The Times-Picayune. November 25, 2007
205:
174:comedy clubs located in California and
957:
508:
290:
44:Schwegmann Brothers Giant Supermarkets
395:. Gambit Weekly. 2003. Archived from
327:"Al Copeland dies in Munich, Germany"
1020:20th-century American businesspeople
788:
672:"When Anne Rice battled Al Copeland"
531:
333:from the original on August 16, 2015
740:"Copeland being treated for cancer"
700:"Copeland divorce details unveiled"
509:Keegan, Peter O. (April 22, 1991).
13:
652:. Court TV News. December 16, 2007
329:. Times-Picayune. March 24, 2008.
291:Martin, Douglas (March 25, 2008).
128:Diversified Foods & Seasonings
14:
1031:
1000:Deaths from Merkel-cell carcinoma
864:
491:Church's Chicken official website
92:In 1972, Al Copeland founded the
40:St. Thomas public housing project
16:American entrepreneur (1944–2008)
916:Copeland of New Orleans' website
911:Al Copeland Investments' website
871:
154:Other businesses and investments
29:
1005:Businesspeople from New Orleans
839:
817:
758:
732:
664:
584:
558:
532:Wong, Venessa (June 17, 2014).
525:
980:American food company founders
931:Copeland's Social City website
772:. July 8, 2008. Archived from
484:
437:
411:
393:"2003 Spring Restaurant Guide"
385:
345:
94:Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits
88:Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits
1:
995:Deaths from cancer in Germany
271:
1015:People from Arabi, Louisiana
1010:Burials at Metairie Cemetery
164:Copeland's Cheesecake Bistro
66:, providing funding for the
7:
921:Cheesecake Bistro's website
847:"$ 1,000,000 endowed chair"
10:
1036:
566:"Al be home for Christmas"
513:. Nation's Restaurant News
244:Illness, death, and legacy
231:New Orleans Times-Picayune
64:Louisiana State University
990:American motorboat racers
68:Delgado Community College
985:Fast-food chain founders
926:Amor De Brazil's website
906:Church's Chicken website
182:Annual Christmas display
216:Morton's The Steakhouse
117:Al Copeland Enterprises
975:American restaurateurs
941:Al Copeland Foundation
539:Bloomberg Businessweek
106:Baton Rouge, Louisiana
20:Alvin Charles Copeland
766:"A Race for the Cure"
674:. The Times-Picayune.
250:Merkel cell carcinoma
746:on February 16, 2013
706:on December 20, 2007
419:"Company management"
206:Public controversies
178:, and three hotels.
598:. December 19, 1983
572:. December 15, 2003
776:on August 28, 2008
447:. Inside Northside
399:on January 8, 2008
359:. December 9, 2005
238:Ronald Bodenheimer
227:St. Charles Avenue
199:Lake Pontchartrain
130:plants located in
102:St. Bernard Parish
262:Metairie Cemetery
1027:
902:
900:
898:
881:
879:Biography portal
876:
875:
874:
859:
858:
856:
854:
843:
837:
836:
834:
832:
821:
815:
814:
812:
810:
805:on June 24, 2008
795:
786:
785:
783:
781:
762:
756:
755:
753:
751:
736:
730:
729:
725:
716:
715:
713:
711:
696:
687:
686:
682:
676:
675:
668:
662:
661:
659:
657:
646:
633:
632:
630:
628:
617:
608:
607:
605:
603:
588:
582:
581:
579:
577:
562:
556:
555:
553:
551:
546:on June 18, 2014
542:. Archived from
529:
523:
522:
520:
518:
506:
493:
488:
482:
481:
479:
477:
466:
457:
456:
454:
452:
441:
435:
434:
432:
430:
415:
409:
408:
406:
404:
389:
383:
378:
369:
368:
366:
364:
349:
343:
342:
340:
338:
323:
308:
307:
305:
303:
288:
194:Jefferson Parish
113:Church's Chicken
1035:
1034:
1030:
1029:
1028:
1026:
1025:
1024:
955:
954:
896:
894:
886:
877:
872:
870:
867:
862:
852:
850:
845:
844:
840:
830:
828:
823:
822:
818:
808:
806:
797:
796:
789:
779:
777:
764:
763:
759:
749:
747:
738:
737:
733:
727:
726:
719:
709:
707:
698:
697:
690:
683:
679:
670:
669:
665:
655:
653:
648:
647:
636:
626:
624:
619:
618:
611:
601:
599:
590:
589:
585:
575:
573:
564:
563:
559:
549:
547:
530:
526:
516:
514:
507:
496:
489:
485:
475:
473:
468:
467:
460:
450:
448:
443:
442:
438:
428:
426:
425:on May 25, 2009
417:
416:
412:
402:
400:
391:
390:
386:
379:
372:
362:
360:
351:
350:
346:
336:
334:
325:
324:
311:
301:
299:
289:
278:
274:
246:
208:
184:
156:
138:, New Orleans,
90:
32:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1033:
1023:
1022:
1017:
1012:
1007:
1002:
997:
992:
987:
982:
977:
972:
967:
953:
952:
943:
938:
933:
928:
923:
918:
913:
908:
903:
883:
882:
866:
865:External links
863:
861:
860:
838:
816:
787:
757:
731:
717:
688:
677:
663:
634:
609:
596:New York Times
583:
557:
524:
494:
483:
458:
436:
410:
384:
370:
344:
309:
297:New York Times
275:
273:
270:
245:
242:
207:
204:
183:
180:
155:
152:
89:
86:
31:
28:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1032:
1021:
1018:
1016:
1013:
1011:
1008:
1006:
1003:
1001:
998:
996:
993:
991:
988:
986:
983:
981:
978:
976:
973:
971:
968:
966:
963:
962:
960:
951:
947:
944:
942:
939:
937:
934:
932:
929:
927:
924:
922:
919:
917:
914:
912:
909:
907:
904:
893:
889:
888:"Al Copeland"
885:
884:
880:
869:
848:
842:
826:
820:
804:
800:
794:
792:
775:
771:
770:Gambit Weekly
767:
761:
745:
741:
735:
724:
722:
705:
701:
695:
693:
681:
673:
667:
651:
645:
643:
641:
639:
622:
616:
614:
597:
593:
587:
571:
567:
561:
545:
541:
540:
535:
528:
512:
505:
503:
501:
499:
492:
487:
471:
465:
463:
446:
440:
424:
420:
414:
398:
394:
388:
382:
377:
375:
358:
354:
348:
332:
328:
322:
320:
318:
316:
314:
298:
294:
287:
285:
283:
281:
276:
269:
265:
263:
259:
258:Easter Sunday
255:
251:
241:
239:
234:
232:
228:
224:
219:
217:
213:
212:Edwin Edwards
203:
200:
195:
191:
190:
179:
177:
173:
169:
168:Amor deBrazil
165:
161:
151:
149:
148:Nebraska City
145:
141:
137:
133:
129:
124:
120:
118:
114:
109:
107:
103:
99:
95:
85:
83:
79:
74:
71:
69:
65:
60:
58:
53:
49:
45:
41:
37:
30:Personal life
27:
25:
21:
897:September 3,
895:. Retrieved
892:Find a Grave
851:. Retrieved
841:
829:. Retrieved
819:
807:. Retrieved
803:the original
778:. Retrieved
774:the original
760:
748:. Retrieved
744:the original
734:
708:. Retrieved
704:the original
680:
666:
654:. Retrieved
625:. Retrieved
600:. Retrieved
595:
586:
574:. Retrieved
569:
560:
548:. Retrieved
544:the original
537:
527:
517:December 12,
515:. Retrieved
486:
474:. Retrieved
449:. Retrieved
439:
427:. Retrieved
423:the original
413:
401:. Retrieved
397:the original
387:
361:. Retrieved
356:
347:
335:. Retrieved
300:. Retrieved
296:
266:
247:
235:
220:
209:
187:
185:
157:
136:Madisonville
125:
121:
116:
110:
91:
75:
72:
61:
33:
19:
18:
970:2008 deaths
965:1944 births
946:Appearances
825:"Our story"
750:December 8,
710:December 8,
656:December 8,
627:December 8,
602:January 29,
576:January 29,
550:February 5,
476:January 17,
451:January 17,
429:January 17,
403:January 28,
363:January 28,
144:San Antonio
57:franchising
36:New Orleans
959:Categories
853:October 8,
831:October 8,
799:"Obituary"
272:References
176:Pittsburgh
172:the Improv
160:Copeland's
78:power boat
780:August 8,
357:USA Today
337:March 24,
302:March 25,
223:Anne Rice
52:soda jerk
46:store in
331:Archived
132:Metairie
82:Metairie
48:Gentilly
34:Born in
24:Popeyes
950:C-SPAN
809:May 3,
254:Munich
146:, and
140:Mobile
189:Today
98:Arabi
50:as a
899:2010
855:2022
833:2022
811:2010
782:2008
752:2007
712:2007
658:2007
629:2007
604:2008
578:2008
552:2024
519:2007
478:2013
453:2013
431:2013
405:2008
365:2008
339:2008
304:2008
948:on
570:NBC
256:on
100:in
961::
890:.
790:^
768:.
720:^
691:^
637:^
612:^
594:.
568:.
536:.
497:^
461:^
373:^
355:.
312:^
295:.
279:^
264:.
166:,
162:,
142:,
134:,
59:.
901:.
857:.
835:.
813:.
784:.
754:.
714:.
660:.
631:.
606:.
580:.
554:.
521:.
480:.
455:.
433:.
407:.
367:.
341:.
306:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.