Zydeco’s will return to parish in July

Soon after the Memorial Day fire claimed the community’s beloved Zydeco’s Cajun Restaurant in Boutte, owners Dusten and Rose Marie Gainey put up a sign at the site along U.S. Highway 90 saying, “We’ll return.”

Then came last week’s Facebook announcement, “Zydeco’s Boutte has secured a building in Paradis as a temporary location. Hoping to reopen in a few weeks.”

By this week, the couple was at work renovating the building in preparation for the much-anticipated reopening date – mid-July.

“We’re not the type of people to sit idle,” said Rose Marie Gainey. “And all the employees were like … ‘How long?’”

The couple expect to lease the Paradis location at least a year until rebuilding the Boutte building is complete.

As to the cause of the fire, Deputy State Fire Marshal Brant Thompson said their investigation confirmed a lightening strike started the blaze the destroyed the building.

Although Gainey is still shaken by the loss, she is excitedabout what’s coming with the new restaurant in Boutte.

“It’s going to be awesome, but that will be a surprise for everyone,” she said.

In Paradis, Gainey was a little nostalgic over returning to the building where they started and operated Zydeco’s for three years until they outgrew it and moved to Boutte. The day after the fire, customers also remembered the location fondly and drove by the charred rubble of their longtime cherished eatery and meeting place.

“It feels good,” Gainey said of working toward a reopening. “My employees are happy.”

They are so eager to return to work that she anticipates 80 percent of her 52 employees will follow them from Boutte to Paradis.

“It’s not the same, but we’re back,” she said.

They’ll be working in a building half the size of the 11,000 square-foot Boutte site. Soon, they’ll have seating for around 160 people.

“It’ll be a little trying, but it’ll work,” Gainey said. “This building will be good to us.”

Customers should expect some changes, including a new daily seafood platter, as well as all-you-can-eat specials every night in place of the buffet, she said. Because a charbroil is in the dining room, customers will be able to watch cooks cook oysters while eating.

There also will be new menu items, but Gainey said, “It’s a surprise.”