If you're trying to get a Popeyes chicken sandwich in Indianapolis, good luck

UPDATE: I got one! Check out my full review.

Original: I'm no stranger to buying into extreme internet hype and having my heart broken when high demand turns me away empty-handed. 

Waiting in a digital line for hours to snag opening night tickets to the new Avengers movie and watching in horror as Fandango crashes just as I'm entering my payment information? Been there.

Cutting out of Thanksgiving dinner early to stand outside Best Buy in the cold and still missing out on getting that $200 4K TV? Done that.

But a chicken sandwich? There's no way that demand for deep-fried poultry on a brioche bun could ever been high enough to have that kind of impact.

Then this week happened.

If you haven't noticed from the countless head-to-head videos and online reviews, Popeyes launched its new chicken sandwich and people like it. A lot. In fact, most of the talk about the new fast-food item is how it has already dethroned the beloved Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich as the best on the market.

Sure, folks like Wendy's and Shake Shack have chimed in. But it has really become a two-bird race.

The new sandwich made its nationwide debut on Aug. 12, and after a week of heavy praise online, I decided to check this thing out for myself at my local Popeyes. Being a Washington Township resident, the closest option I have is the Popeyes at West 86th and Michigan streets.

But at that location, getting one hasn't been easy.

On Monday afternoon I stopped by and was told that they were out of the supplies needed to make the chicken sandwich. No biggie, I thought. They'll get it straightened out tomorrow. 

On Tuesday afternoon, as heavy rain battered Central Indiana and knocked out power for thousands of Hoosiers, Popeyes was fully lit and the line of cars in the drive-thru wrapped around the building.

But one by one, the cars, including mine, drove off in disappointment around 4 p.m. as customers were informed by Popeyes staff that the store was closed early because they were "out of everything," according to the voice from the drive-thru speaker.

Naturally, I turned to Twitter for answers and found some comfort in the fact that I wasn't alone. Both here in Indianapolis and across the nation, jilted sandwich seekers vented about their local Popeyes suddenly closing because of the new, hot item.

This sandwich has officially gone viral at this point. It's like the "Old Town Road" of fast food, and is creating the kind of response not seen since Taco Bell unleashed Doritos Locos Tacos on the world.

I contacted Popeyes corporate to see if they could give me some sales data and talk more about the sandwich mania demand.

Those stats aren't available, according to spokeswoman Dori Alvarez. But officials are very aware of the love the item is getting. 

"While we can’t share any specifics regarding our sales, we can say that we know our guests are really enjoying the sandwich and feedback has been very positive!" Alvarez said in a statement sent via email. "Our restaurants in the Indianapolis area are operating normally and ready to serve our guests."

A first round of calls placed Wednesday morning to the 86th Street location, and multiple other area locations, went unanswered. A second set of calls in the afternoon yielded similar results, but staff members did pick up the phone at the 3128 E. Washington St. and 2902 Madison Avenue stores.

Washington Street was selling the sandwiches as of 1:30 p.m, but Madison Avenue had just sold out.

However, the follow-up second call to my 86th Street store around 1:15 p.m. provided a glimmer of hope for the evening.

The staff member informed me that yes, they are once again all sold out of chicken sandwiches. But they expect to resume sales tonight around 6 p.m. after their truck comes in.

Fingers crossed that I don't go 0-3 tonight.

Call IndyStar reporter Justin L. Mack at 317-444-6138. Follow him on Twitter: @justinlmack.