Prominent restaurateur Ruben Chavez is currently renovating a restaurant space in Lafayette Parish and seeking input from the community on a concept for the space. Chavez owns several different restaurant concepts, including a chain of El Paso Mexican Grill restaurants across the Gulf South region. According to Developing Lafayette, Chavez is renovating the former Cajun Market Meats in Youngsville, converting it into a restaurant space, but does not have a concept. The Developing Lafayette Facebook page issued a call for suggestions on behalf of Chavez, and a cursory scan of the comments suggests little appetite for a Tex-Mex concept. Renovations are expected to be finished within a few months.
Last year, What Now New Orleans reported on a similar undertaking from Chavez. The restaurateur had purchased a former Hooters in Lafayette and was renovating it for a restaurant concept as well. A new restaurant has yet to take up residence in that space.
