A chicken restaurant that has been in operation in Winter Park for nearly a decade has permanently closed its doors on account of rising rent costs, joining several other chicken restaurants that have met similar fates in the past year.
The COOP will close its restaurant at 610 W Morse Boulevard in Winter Park on Sunday, July 16, according to a statement issued by the company.
“It’s with a grateful heart for the opportunity to have served so many wonderful families at The COOP these last 9 & 1/2 years to share that our time at the our Winter Park home is coming to an end on Sunday, July 16,” reads the statement.
Owned by 4Rivers founder John Rivers, Rivers says the brand will continue to be served throughout the area.
“The COOP brand will continue in the many venues it’s currently served throughout Orlando; who knows, perhaps God will lead us to other restaurant locations in the future,” reads the statement.
In May, Chick’nCone closed its doors at 501 N Orlando Avenue, citing unspecified “personal reasons” behind the closure. That location was open for just over a year and was the first of its kind in Central Florida.
In November, Popeyes closed its restaurant on Orlando Avenue, which was located just a mile south of Chickn’Cone.
All of the closures come amidst a growing slate of competition in the area. That includes the additions of Chicken Guy, a franchise operated by chef Guy Fieri that opened its doors last year, as well as Chick-Fil-A and PDQ, which both opened just a few blocks away within the past five years.