There are many vacant buildings in communities throughout the United States as a result from the economic downturn. Things are picking back up and the economy is on the mend.  Madisonville, Louisiana is seeing this new growth and upturn in its community. A lucky break may come for an abandoned seafood restaurant in the community.

Greg Lala and Steven Guidry, of Dixie RV SuperStores, developed a plan to refurbish the abandoned Friends Restaurant on the Tchefuncte River. The adaptive reuse plan will turn the restaurant into a multi-use complex. The 27,000-sqaure-foot building would be turned into various eating establishments and Dixie RV SuperStores’ corporate office.

The plan which has already been heard by the Town Council for the building at 407 St. Tammany St, will be put before the Madisonville Planning and Zoning Commission, Tuesday, December 4, 2018. The third floor of the current building will be the RV dealership’s corporate headquarters, the second floor would house a high-end steakhouse and the bottom open-air floor would offer patrons laid back eateries such as food trucks.

The Friends Restaurant opened in the huge building in 2015 and stayed open for only two short years. The restaurant consisted of a multi-level restaurant with a reception hall on the third level. Originally home to a historic four-room cottage that was destroyed in Hurricane Isaac, the site holds dear to many residents.

The building is currently on the market for $3.95 million and will be purchased pending the planning and zoning commission’s approval.  There will be a variance needed to convert the top floor to office space and address parking issues. Mayor Jean Pelloat and Town council members are on board with refurbishing the abandoned building and support the adaptive plan.

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