Hammond denies Popeye’s Chicken a business license

The largest Popeye’s Chicken franchisee in the U.S. is trying to hold onto its two licenses in Hammond.

HZ Props Re, Ltd. is appealing the city’s denial of the franchisee’s application to renew the business license for its Popeye’s Chicken at 922 Indianapolis Blvd., near the Horseshoe Casino.

HZ Props’s other Popeye’s is at 6740 Indianapolis Blvd.

Trey Thomas, attorney for HZ Props and Daniel Pina, regional manager for HZ Props, appeared via video at the August 27th Board of Works meeting to answer a complaint by the Hammond Office of Business Licenses that the 922 Indianapolis Blvd. store is operating without a valid license.

Hammond business licenses are 1 year permits, expiring on June 30 and must be renewed each year by the following August 1. According to the Business License page on the city’s website, gohammond.com, the fee to renew a restaurant license is $105.

Lisa Serrano, the administrator of the business license office said the renewal application was submitted in June for both stores but was missing some required paperwork. That paperwork wasn’t received until August 19th, Serrano said.

The paperwork for the second Popeye’s Chicken was received on the same date in August and the city approved its renewal application.

The difference in treatment for the 922 Indianapolis Blvd. store is an August 14th shooting that occurred there.

Hammond city attorney Kevin Smith named Tyriq Talley, a Popeye’s employee as being involved in the shooting “that left a customer bleeding from a gunshot wound on the sidewalk out front.”

Atty. Smith said Hammond Police retrieved Popeye’s security camera video from August 14th, the day of the shooting, showing Talley inside the restaurant holding a weapon.

Citing a Hammond public safety code the city is saying was violated and “… that somehow the restaurant allowed this employee to engage in misconduct,” Atty. Thomas said, “is further from the truth. Popeye’s contains a clear policy that prohibits employees from bringing any sort of weapon or firearm onto the premises.”

Talley was immediately terminated, Atty. Thomas said.

Talley hasn’t been arrested, Atty. Smith said, as the incident remains under investigation.

The Popeye’s at 922 Indianapolis Blvd. can stay open until the Board of Works makes a decision said Jeff Long, its chairman.