Baton Rouge’s Mid-City exploding with new business

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By Alexandra Giamalva

Mid-City is arguably the most unique and diverse part of Baton Rouge. There are large, commercial buildings on Florida Boulevard, restaurants. Antique stores lining Government Street and sought-after vintage homes in the Garden District – and not to mention three of the best schools in the city (Saint Joseph’s Academy, Catholic High School and Baton Rouge High) – lie within the Mid-City limits.

So, why does it seem that people have been neglecting this part of the city? Allowing it to merely remain in the shadow of downtown nightlife developments or Perkins Rowe shopping? Luckily, within the past year especially, Mid-City Baton Rouge has come full circle, with new developments and businesses popping up all the time and at every corner.

Government Street houses its fair share of classic restaurants that have been around for years, including Superior Grille, Fleur de Lis Pizza and Brother’s BBQ – places that are regarded some of the best restaurants in town.

But, a slew of newer restaurants have opened in the area with a new, modern twist, including Bistro Byronz, located on Government Street.

Byronz opened about one and a half years ago, marking the beginning of this Mid-City make-over. This quaint restaurant was an actual house before the Kantrow family bought it and turned it into a casual eatery with a unique and elegant, but not presumptuous menu.

Local favorites include the blue cheese chips, homemade bread and the made-in-house Moreau salad dressing.

The elegant black and white décor of Bistro Byronz showcases where the family pulled inspiration from: New York City cafés.

But, not straying far from their Southern roots, the Kantrows still managed to give the Mid-City area a laid-back, neighborhood restaurant that makes its visitors feel at home.

“There is so much more to be discovered! I love this area and am thrilled with all the new developments,” said Emelie Kantrow Alton, co-owner of the restaurant and member of the Mid-City Merchants.

But, the business owners on Government Street are far from competitive.

“We stay in close contact, help each other out,” says Alton, speaking of their across-the-street neighbor, Superior Grille.

But she also raves about other fellow Government Street area businesses, Circa Antiques, Ruecou Cou, a unique gift and frame shop, and a new, unique business called Stay Canine Spa and Day Care, owned by Michael Hackett.

Hackett, who also owns the Petz Plaza on Perkins Road, opened Stay Canine Spa and Day Care on Jefferson Highway in February and has experienced great success. Unlike the Petz Plaza, which offers overnight boarding, Stay is strictly a dog day care, catering especially to working canine owners or students who don’t want to leave their lonely pets at home all day.

But, bringing them here will leave them far from lonely. With dog-lovers for employees and plenty of room to run and play with other dogs, what more could a pooch want?

Hackett’s upscale pet care business is the first dog day care in the city and is yet another positive addition to the Mid-City area, and he’s anxious for more to come.

“The Mid-City area is a unique, hidden gem in Baton Rouge. There is so much cool stuff happening recently,” says Hackett.

In the same shopping center on Jefferson Highway is also the Baton Rouge favorite, Monjunis Italian Restaurant. The restaurant opened two years ago and similarly to Bistro Byronz, helped to kick off Mid-City development.

This family-style Italian restaurant began in Shreveport as a catering business and then expanded into a lunch restaurant. But soon, Monjunis developed what owner Cody Stevens calls a “cult-like following” in Shreveport and they expanded even further, opening restaurants in Monroe, Rustin and finally Mid-City Baton Rouge.

“This area was a good fit for us,” says Stevens, “We liked the neighborhood aspect that Mid-City provided. It attracts all kinds of people; young professionals, families and students.”

Monjunis and both of its owners, Cody Stevens and Jimmy Rousso, are also active members of the Mid-City Merchants and feel the same way as most business owners in the area — that it’s time for Mid-City to shine.

“Mid-City needs it. The more businesses, the better off we are. It will draw people to the area, make this a better place for people to come,” says Stevens.

Perhaps one of the most exciting developments in Mid-City is a brand new fitness center. According to Justin Langlois of Sealy & Falgoust Real Estate, details about the new business are still under wraps. But, it will be open on Government Street within the next six months. The gym will be one of the larger ones in town at 4,000 square feet and will stay open 24 hours a day.

Also coming to the area is a string of new shopping centers. The first is actually a redevelopment of an existing retail center, on the corner of Rebel Street and Government Street. Chad Ortte of Donnie Jarreau Real Estate said that they are looking to give the shopping center an update, do something different with it.

The next project with Donnie Jarreau will be breaking ground next year. It’s an upscale shopping center, the first large retail development on Government Street in many years. This shopping center will be around 13,000 square feet and although many businesses are interested in bringing their business to this Mid-City location, nothing is finalized yet. The shopping center will most likely hold a coffee shop, a few restaurants with an outdoor patio seating area and possibly an art gallery.

But, what makes this development stand out the most is that it will have what Ortte calls “curb appeal.” This means that the building will be set very close to the road, with a parking lot in back – a pleasing visual to customers and those who often commute down Government Street.

He believes that Mid-City Baton Rouge has a bright future.

“Government Street is a great area to make an investment in. It’s close to downtown and is surrounded by a good demographic. It has character,” says Ortte.

Also, rumor has it that the Mid-City Alliance is working on making Government Street a three lane road and including side-street parking, similar to something you might see on Magazine Street in New Orleans.

With every corner of our city developing at an astronomical pace, Baton Rouge is literally becoming a cultural hub of Louisiana with economic development at an all-time high. Now that the Mid-City area is jumping on the bandwagon, one can only watch out for even more modern and unique businesses on the rise.

E-mail the author at Ali@tigerweekly.com

Originally Published: Issue 581 - September 26, 2007

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