The Daily News reports East New York residents are crying foul over a shuttered chicken joint that reeks of rotting food and is covered in dead flies (right, exactly as shown, photo from Daily News).

"It smells like a dead animal has been in there a while," said Maryann August, a clerk at Strauss Discount Auto store next door to the closed-down Popeyes.

People in the neighborhood said it is a mystery why the once popular fast-food franchise closed down suddenly.

When the Daily News visited yesterday, the doors to the restaurant were padlocked shut. Hundreds of dead flies were piled up on dining room tables and window sills.

A trash can in front of the restaurant was overflowing with garbage and two Dumpsters in back were filled with trash.

On warm days, the rotten stench coming from the place gets so strong that it can be smelled for blocks, neighbors said.

Popeyes spokeswoman Karlie Lahm said the franchise’s owner, NY Inner City Chicken Inc., is in bankruptcy. Officials at NY Inner City Chicken couldn’t be reached for comment.