The building at 1601 W. Pinhook Road, formerly home to Hana Japanese & Korean Grill, is being demolished to make way for a proposed new riverfront restaurant.
Located along the Vermilion River near several hotels, the property is just under an acre and included a nearly 9,000-square-foot building that had been vacant since early 2020. It sold in late April 2025 to a local investor group led by Jonathan Foreman for $825,000, according to TheAdvocate.com.
The site has a long history as a restaurant location, starting with the original Vermilion Landing from back in the 1970s. When we first moved to Lafayette in 2010, this space was Tokyo Live, which was where a lot of families went as their go-to hibachi spot. However, it ultimately closed, making way for Hana Grill, which closed shortly thereafter. It’s worth noting that both of these recent restaurants never fully utilized the riverfront aspect. That is expected to change with this new development.
The new owners plan to build a modern, casual dining concept that takes advantage of the river setting, including outdoor seating and space for entertainment. No official plans, name, or operator have been announced, and the concept remains in early development.
The project does not require rezoning, and city records show no planning or council actions tied to the site as of this post. If all goes smoothly, construction could begin later this year with a possible opening around 2027.
