Around Town

Half Shell Oyster House coming to Costco center Mississippi-based chain picks Lafayette for first Louisiana location.

Half Shell Oyster House's oyster combo platter

Before the end of the year, Costco-anchored Ambassador Town Center will be home to the first Half Shell Oyster House location in the state. Founded in Gulfport, Miss., in 2009, the seafood restaurant chain has eight existing locations in Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

Half Shell will occupy 5,850 square feet and is expected to open in November near World of Beer, which is slated for an October opening on Meadow Farm Drive. Half Shell is known for local Gulf oysters and its variety of Gulf Coast seafood dishes with a New Orleans flare. The restaurants have a French Quarter feel that includes murals, antique fixtures and lighting from the French Quarter, wrought iron railings and antique wood doors.

Center developers Stirling Properties and CBL & Associates Properties also announced a recently signed lease with Just 4 Him Men’s Haircut Lounge, which will occupy 1,267 square feet when it opens in September.

Additional tenants on track to open later this year are Professor Bob Beans and Verizon Wireless in June, and Phone Zone, Red Robin, Avalon Nails & Spa and Tao Asian Cuisine in July.

Ambassador Town Center is a 60-acre retail project consisting of more than 430,000 square feet. Located at Ambassador Caffery Parkway and Kaliste Saloom Road, the development also includes BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, Blaze Pizza, Chuy’s Mexican Restaurant, Costco Gasoline, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, Five Below, Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, Marshalls/HomeGoods, Nordstrom Rack, Off Broadway Shoes, Panda Express, Panera Bread, PetSmart, Subway and Tao Japanese Cuisine.