POPS, which quickly became a Route 66 landmark after its opening in Arcadia, Oklahoma, in 2007, will open another restaurant in the north Oklahoma City suburb of Nichols Hills, reported the Edmond Sun newspaper.
The new POPS will be in Nichols Hills Plaza on Avondale Drive near Western Avenue and Northwest 63rd Street. It would be within rock-throwing distance of Western, which was known as Beltline Route 66 from 1931 to 1947.
The newspaper reported:
As in Arcadia, the Nichols Hills location will offer a fun and enjoyable opportunity for all ages to enjoy delicious burgers, fries and shakes, plus its unique selection of over 700 varieties of cold soda pop and a well-stocked candy bar that will appeal to both the young and young at heart.
Marty Doepke, manager of POPS, said, “We’re excited to bring the family-friendly and unique POPS’ Route 66 Arcadia experience to the Nichols Hills community and with it, bright,colorful, free-wheeling family fun, food, candy and drinks to all ages.”
POPS also has small locations at Tulsa International Airport and Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City.
The original Pops in Arcadia features a restaurant, gas station, convenience store, hundreds of types of soda and a 66-foot-tall soda bottle out front festooned with multicolored LED lights.
POPS was the brainchild of billionaire Aubrey McClendon, who was CEO of Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake Energy until he essentially was forced into retirement in 2013. McClendon now owns American Energy Partners in Oklahoma City.
(Image of POPS in Arcadia, Oklahoma, by George Thomas via Flickr)