Popeyes is bringing back its wildly popular fried chicken sandwich

Popeyes is bringing back its chicken sandwich after it sold out across the country this summer.

Back in August, the fried chicken chain announced that it was debuting a fried chicken sandwich for the first time ever — and it proved so incredibly popular that restaurants quickly sold out, leaving disappointed customers complaining on social media, storming franchises at gunpoint, and even suing the company.

But on Wednesday an owner of a company that operates 150 locations told Bloomberg that it’s coming back, and what’s more, 400 new employees will be hired nationwide to deal with the influx of customers.

Coming soon! Popeyes is bringing back its chicken sandwich after it sold out across the country this summer 

Gone! Popeyes first released the chicken sandwich on August 12, but just two weeks later they completely ran out of stock

Gone! Popeyes first released the chicken sandwich on August 12, but just two weeks later they completely ran out of stock

The sandwich will hit stores once again in November, franchise owner Guillermo Perales said.

He also admitted that the chain wasn’t prepared for just how in-demand the sandwich would be.

‘The first time they weren’t ready,’ said Perales, whose Sun Holdings Inc. also owns several Burger King, Krispy Kreme, and Arby’s restaurants.  

‘We have been working diligently to bring the sandwich back to our restaurants soon, as we know our guests are anxiously anticipating its return,’ Restaurant Brands International added in a statement. 

Though the company wouldn’t divulge the exact re-release date, it promised: ‘As soon as we’re ready to announce a date, we will let the world know!’

 

 

Popular: Dozens of Twitter users expressed their happiness at trying the sandwich for the very first time

Popular: Dozens of Twitter users expressed their happiness at trying the sandwich for the very first time 

Diners went wild for the sandwich when it was first released, marking the first time in 45 years that the restaurant offered a sandwich.

It sold for $3.99 and was made with a buttermilk-battered and hand-breaded white meat chicken fillet with barrel cured pickles between a toasted brioche fun.

Customers had the option of topping that with mayonnaise or spicy Cajun spread. 

‘A’ye that Popeyes spicy chicken sandwich ? 111111111% worth the hype,’ one person wrote on Twitter soon after the release.

‘My body went limp after the first bite but imma little dramatic so… Also better than Chick-fil-A. That’s not an exaggeration. Try it with some blackened ranch dipping sauce.’

Another chimed in: ‘The Popeyes Spicy Chicken Sandwich is so good I’m writing it in for President in 2020.’  

Going, going, gone! Customers were disappointed when it was quickly sold out

Going, going, gone! Customers were disappointed when it was quickly sold out

So sad, so hungry... Several disappointed customers shared signs hung up in their restaurants proclaiming that there are no sandwiches left

So sad, so hungry… Several disappointed customers shared signs hung up in their restaurants proclaiming that there are no sandwiches left

Before shot: Gayle King revealed that she had to try fifteen different Popeyes locations in search of the chain's new fried chicken sandwich, and she still left empty-handed

Before shot: Gayle King revealed that she had to try fifteen different Popeyes locations in search of the chain’s new fried chicken sandwich, and she still left empty-handed

'We also called FIFTEEN locations how do you run out of that sandwich on SUNDAY???!!!! May need therapy to recover,' she said

‘We also called FIFTEEN locations how do you run out of that sandwich on SUNDAY???!!!! May need therapy to recover,’ she said

Customers were soon lining up and snatching up every last sandwich, leaving stores to post signs informing others of the sold-out status.

Even Gayle King took to Instagram to complain that she couldn’t get her hands on one. 

‘We are SO psyched today nephew @cameronharrison6 ready to taste THEEE CHICKEN sandwich @popeyeslouisianakitchen,’ she wrote. 

‘Whomp whomp,’ she added, also posting a picture of a sign posted outside proclaiming a store to be sold out. 

‘We also called FIFTEEN locations how do you run out of that sandwich on SUNDAY???!!!! May need therapy to recover.’

Later, she talked about the quest on CBS This Morning, saying: ‘I swear to you, I’m gonna find that darn chicken sandwich today.’

Yikes! In late August, an irate Popeyes customer climbed through a drive-thru window before brawling with three employees when he learned the sandwich was sold out

Yikes! In late August, an irate Popeyes customer climbed through a drive-thru window before brawling with three employees when he learned the sandwich was sold out 

Though Gayle was a bit upset, other customers have been furious.

In late August, an irate Popeyes customer climbed through a drive-thru window before brawling with three employees when he learned the sandwich was sold out. 

Video and images of other Popeyes restaurant fights emerged online as well. 

In early September, a group of diners at a Texas Popeyes tried to storm the local eatery at gunpoint after they were told there were no more chicken sandwiches left. 

Among the hungry mob were two women and three men, who reportedly stopped at the drive-thru in southeast Houston on Scott Street and Corder just after 9pm Monday.

But the routine transaction quickly took a dramatic turn when the employee at the window told them their supplies of the new and infamous Popeyes chicken sandwich had run dry.

In response, all five of the currently unidentified suspects tried to force their way inside the restaurant, with one of the men even pulling out a gun refusing to take no for an answer.  

Craig Barr, of East Ridge, Tennessee, filed the lawsuit (above) against Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen alleging that they conducted 'false advertising' and 'deceptive business practices'

Craig Barr, of East Ridge, Tennessee, filed the lawsuit (above) against Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen alleging that they conducted ‘false advertising’ and ‘deceptive business practices’

Throughout the ordeal, the group left a baby unattended in the back seat of their blue SUV, according to ABC.

A restaurant worker was able to lock the front door in time to prevent the group entering the chain, and they soon fled from the scene with empty stomachs.

And Craig Barr, of East Ridge, Tennessee filed a $5,000 lawsuit against the fast food chain alleging false advertising’ and ‘deceptive business practices’ by the company because he couldn’t get his hands on their famous chicken sandwich.

He claims to have spent ‘countless hours’ driving around in an attempt to buy the sandwich. 

Barr claims while traveling to one location on Highway 58 he cracked a wheel rim costing him $1,500 and now he ‘can’t get happy,’ Times Free Press wrote.

The civil case happened as Jose Cil, CEO of Restaurant Brands International, who own Popeyes, announced that he never expected the sandwich to ‘break the internet’ to CNN.

‘I have this sandwich on my mind. I can’t think straight. It just consumes you,’ Barr said. ‘It’s totally deceptive. Who runs out of chicken? It’s a big fiasco. Someone has to stand up to big corporate.’

In his desperate bid to get one of the brioche, chicken and pickle sandwiches, he claims to have paid a man from Craigslist $25 for the food.

‘I got scammed,’ he told Free Press.

Barr blamed the corporation for getting ‘everyone gassed up on them’ and then running out. 

The lawsuit was filed with Hamilton County court who scheduled a date for October 28 in Chattanooga.  

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk