Rachael’s Café, a well-known locally-owned restaurant at 104 Republic Avenue in Lafayette, LA, is expanding with a second location at 8218 Maurice Avenue in Maurice, Louisiana, taking over the former Classic Cup building next to Hebert’s Specialty Meats.
The new location is the first expansion for the family-owned business since opening Rachael’s Café in Lafayette in 2012. This expansion represents continued growth for the company, while also bringing the family back to a property tied to its restaurant roots.
Before the current building was constructed, the site was home to Soop’s Restaurant, a longtime local establishment built by Rachael’s father and operated by multiple family members over the years.
The new Rachael’s Café Maurice location will offer the same menu as Rachael’s Café in Lafayette, including Cajun and Creole dishes, plate lunches, seafood specialties, and healthier menu options. Popular items include seafood gumbo, chicken fried steak, shrimp stew, grilled chicken plates, and the restaurant’s famous coconut sweet potatoes.
Chicken Fried Steak: Photo courtesy of fb
Coconut Sweet Potatoes: Photo courtesy of fb
Features and plans for the new Maurice restaurant include an existing drive-thru, along with a full-service bar, and a larger kitchen layout than the Lafayette location. Renovations are expected to include installation of a commercial hood system, kitchen upgrades, and minor interior modifications.
In addition to its restaurant operations, Rachael’s Café also operates a wholesale food production business, called Rachael’s Seafood, that distributes frozen products through local grocery stores, meat markets, and other retailers. This wholesale side also supports the restaurant and its expansion plans so that quality remains consistent.
The Lafayette location will remain open as the company expands into Maurice, a community ownership says has long supported the business and where many existing customers already live.
For the family behind Rachael’s Café, the project represents both the company’s first expansion and a return to the property where much of its restaurant history began.
Construction on Rachael’s Café Maurice is expected to begin June 1st, with a tentative opening date set for early to mid-July if construction stays on schedule.
You can follow Rachael’s Café at https://www.facebook.com/share/1DRT3cdJ5N/?mibextid=wwXIfr. Or you can visit their website at https://rachaelslafayette.com.
