Popeye’s Chicken coming back to Coney?

Leases went out last week to two fast-food restaurants for space in a two-story commercial building to be built on the vacant lot next to Coney Island’s Stillwell Terminal, and rumor has it that Popeye’s Chicken will reopen there, according to the Amusing the Zillion blog. The new building, at 1223 Surf Avenue, will have 10,000 square feet on the first floor and 5,000 square feet on the second floor. Popeye’s owner began looking for space after getting pushed out of the Henderson Building by Thor Equities, where it had been located for 27 years. “We sent out leases for two spaces, both on the left side of the property,” said broker Joe Vitacco of Jacob Gold Realty. Though he could not disclose the names of the restaurants before the leases were signed, “they will be fast food,” he said. According to Vitacco, the price of the lease depends upon how much work the tenant requires of the landlord beyond a shell. “We are leaving that on a case by case decision,” he said. “The plans have been filed, we need approval, then permits, then we will have an idea as when it will be ready.” [Amusing the Zillion]