Work appears to have begun on a Sanford location of Popeyes in the parking lot of the strip mall anchored by Ollie’s Bargain Outlet and Planet Fitness on South Horner Boulevard. As of Thursday, visible site preparation work visibly under way.

The project has been known for some time, with plans on file with local government that are more than a year old showing the store going next to the new Biscuitville which opened in August. But the speed of the process had led many to speculate in local comment sections that plans had been canceled or changed.

The Rant is told that the developer applied for a building permit in mid October, so actual construction should begin any time. As far as an opening date, we’re as in the dark as anyone else – the official Popeyes website doesn’t list a Sanford location yet – but we’re hoping it takes place within a period of time which could be reasonably described as Louisiana fast.