After decades as a regional attraction, The Myrtles plantation has gotten a second life — as it were — thanks to paranormal TV, and owners of the famously-haunted plantation are planning to open a wood-fired pizza spot and speakeasy-style bar in downtown St. Francisville that will add to the town’s growing hospitality options.
Morgan and Lizzie Moss purchased a property at 5725 N. Commerce St. and the building on the property is currently undergoing renovations ahead of the two business openings this spring. The planned pizza restaurant will be called Big River Pizza Co., while the speakeasy bar will be called Proud Mary’s. An ice cream parlor with different ownership called Away Down South will be attached to the pizza spot.
“With the way that downtown St. Francisville is trending, we knew that we wanted to create something that is artisanal and a culinary celebration,” Morgan Moss recently told What Now New Orleans.
Although both concepts will share a kitchen and offer similar menus anchored by wood-fired pizzas and craft cocktails, Moss said they will provide very different experiences. While Big River will have big post-industrial energy with a rugged look and feel, Proud Mary’s will have softer and more intimate décor to suit its seating capacity of 24 guests. Proud Mary’s will also offer some more elevated dishes and cocktails that are meant for a more sumptuous dining experience.
“What I’m excited about this project is the fact that it’s in the center of town,” Moss said. “There’s plenty of other restaurants, shops, and inns all around it. As I’m working on the building, I’m watching all these people patronize the businesses in town and getting a totally different perspective on what tourism means to our community. So to be about to tap into that through a project that’s not related to The Myrtles has myself and my team really excited.”
