There’s something to be said about fostering environments in business. Restaraunt chains have different feels to them, and you’re hit with it the moment you walk in. It’s not just an aesthetic either. There’s an actual feeling you’re hit with when you enter a place.
In Chick-fil-A, it’s something wholesome, fun, and quality. At Popeye’s…it’s apparently not that.
To show you the difference, various stories have come out recently about Popeye’s and, while its surging sales thanks to its chicken sandwich is one of them, it’s also accompanied by stories of people acting like complete fools.
With just a quick Duck Duck Go search of “Popeye’s Fights,” I was immediately greeted with a handful of stories from various parts of the country where fights broke out between customers and staff.
Here’s one where a woman was body-slammed outside of a Popeye’s by one of its employees after she allegedly said the “n-word.”
Here’s one of people getting into a fight while waiting in line for a sandwich.
And another that seemed to take place behind the registers.
so this is what happened at the popeyes in edgewood today🌚 pic.twitter.com/uL8xxTNWDF
— cheyenne🖤 (@cheyyroberts) November 3, 2019
Here’s a man losing his mind over the fact that they weren’t bringing out his sandwich fast enough.
Y’all starting already take it easy on the #popeyes employees 🤦🏽♂️ pic.twitter.com/Tm4B4VLJNW
— IT’s DEE (@realitsdee1) November 4, 2019
Here’s another where it seems the entire restaurant got involved after a Popeye’s employee leaped the counter and attacked someone else.
https://twitter.com/JesseKellyDC/status/1195334467029741574
There are even reports that one man was fatally stabbed over the fact that he reportedly cut in line at a Popeye’s.
These events aren’t just spread out over time, either. This all took place in just the last couple of weeks.
Meanwhile, at Chick-fil-A.
This what we on in Chick Fila
Popeyes could never 🤷🏽♂️ pic.twitter.com/ZnC9e3OZ2V
— (Foots The King) (@FootsDaKing) November 10, 2019
Hilariously, Popeye’s fans got really salty about this video and began raging in the replies about how pissed they’d be to sit and have to listen to this while they wait to get their food. Also, hate chicken, or something. Apparently, they’re willing to fight anywhere.
Just kidding…but not really.
What’s the difference?
It would be as inaccurate as it would be shallow to say this is racial. Yes, every story features a lot of black people fighting each other, but the Chick-fil-A clip shows predominantly black people giving glory to God while they sing with joy.
The differences should be obvious. Chick-fil-A fosters an environment of love, gratefulness, and good service. The manager there isn’t Rebecca, who is overworked, underpaid, and probably regretting some of her life decisions. It’s Christ. They model their entire approach to business after His teachings and follow His lead.
And “service” is really a huge part of that.
I can remember a story during hurricane Harvey of an elderly couple who became trapped in their house due to the rising floodwaters. They became hungry, and half-joking, the elderly husband called up Chick-fil-A for some food and a rescue boat.
And one showed up, courtesy of Chick-fil-A.
Chick-Fil-A customer service is UNDEFEATED pic.twitter.com/sXgBwHDq5b
— Shehan Jeyarajah (@ShehanJeyarajah) August 31, 2017
I’d say stories like this are one-offs, but they aren’t. Chick-fil-A is known for going above and beyond within its community. When one Chick-fil-A was closed for renovations, instead of letting his employees go without money and work, the owner paid them to go out into the community and help out with various non-profits.
Popeye’s isn’t really doing that. It takes a more secular approach to the world and thus lacks that driving force that spurs on the feeling of community. In fact, the prevailing mentality at Popeye’s seems to be “me first” while at Chick-fil-A it’s “I will move mountains to make sure you’re safe, clothed, and well-fed.”
This is why you see people singing at Chick-fil-A and fighting at Popeye’s.
I haven’t been able to try the Popeye’s chicken sandwich yet. Every time I make my way to Popeye’s during lunch, there’s already a line wrapped around the building. The sandwich must be pretty good, and I can’t wait to give it a go.
But even if it is better than Chick-fil-A’s chicken sandwich, I don’t think I’d enjoy it as much. It won’t come stocked with that same feeling I get for not just eating at a Chick-fil-A, but the same feeling I get when I give Chick-fil-A my business in general. I actively want Chick-fil-A to succeed because it’s a proven positive influence on this world. I can’t say I have that relationship with Popeye’s.
In fact, the environment fostered by Popeye’s makes me want to keep the chain at arm’s length. This is a big problem for Popeye’s if it wants to compete on the same level as Chick-fil-A. It apparently has the product, now it just needs a change of heart.
