East Village Popeyes Put a Half-Smoked Joint in a Sandwich, Man Claims

Popeyes is getting lit

An Alphabet City resident claims that he found a half-smoked joint inside his viral Popeyes chicken sandwich. Jeremy Merdinger, 23, tells the Post that he was “shocked and disgusted” to find what he says “was 100 percent marijuana” inside his spicy chicken sandwich from the West 14th Street Popeyes on November 4. Merdinger emailed Popeyes but hasn’t heard back, with a spokesperson telling the Post they’re “still investigating the claim.”

The Popeyes chicken sandwich has been on quite the ride this year, debuting this summer to crazy hype and virality online, eventually leading to sold-out stores everywhere and even violence. It’s finally returned this November, but if Merdinger’s story checks out, seems like the company’s issues are not quite worked out. Meanwhile, another location may be opening closer to where he lives at 39 First Avenue.

In other news

— Zagat is back with its first printed NYC guide since 2017, which Infatuation cofounder Chris Stang is calling “like a paper app.”

— Churromania continues, with mayor Bill de Blasio weighing in with support for the NYPD who arrested an illegal churro vendor on the subway this weekend, while that churro vendor — who only identified herself as Elsa — emotionally recapped her story to the Post.

— NYC’s hot new Wegmans is already spurring economic growth with the addition of 589 new jobs.

— A book store with coffee and a bar called Book Club has opened in the East Village at 197 East Third Street.

— Several new books out focus on food in NYC.

— Blue Bottle is opening another Midtown location.

— Agree or disagree: