Known for Chicago-style hot dogs, unabashed Chicago Cubs fandom, and a large cult following, Bruiser’s in Slidell sadly closed in 2023. However, ownership is pushing hard to make a comeback with a Northshore location. Co-owner Kevin Barduca recently told What Now New Orleans that plans to build out a new space for Bruiser’s at 1614 N Columbia Street in Covington have hit significant obstacles, including the loss of a contractor and an architect. Barduca said he enlisted the architect who helped him build out the original location in Slidell.
“We got caught up in the fact that the construction project is in Covington, and the idea that everybody on the project should live in Covington,” he said. “We should have just went with the original team, and now we have our original architect from Slidell.”
Bruiser’s closure in 2023 involved a legal battle over equipment that ownership had purchased and improvements they had made as tenants. The community rallied around bruisers back then, ultimately helping to move out equipment won as a result of the legal battle.
“So we posted on Facebook asking for help, and the entire community came out,” Barduca said. “I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about it. People who we didn’t even know would drive up with a truck or trailers just load them up.”
Barduca said he’s felt a similar support in recent months as he and his wife continue to push through financial, regulatory, legal, and other battles to bring back Bruiser’s. For example, Bruiser’s reputation within the community and customer testimonials help to secure an initial financial commitment from American Bank for the Covington location. Barduca is now going bank to the bank for a larger loan due to complications and he’s hoping to leverage his support base once again.
“I guess we created that neighborhood bar kind-of-feel where anybody can come in and be almost like family,” he added. “So yeah, we said we have to keep this thing going.”
