Around Town

Sources: Drago’s taking over La Marquise building

by Leslie Turk

Multiple sources tell ABiz the deal with the Petroleum Club is off, and the 16,000-square-foot building will become an oyster bar, presumably Drago’s.

[UPDATE: Despite what a source in the hospitality business told ABiz earlier today, that the Petroleum Club had canceled some events booked at La Marquise in the coming months, Petroleum Club General Manager John O'Meara maintains that only one event had to be moved from La Marquise to the Petroleum Club itself because of a new development with the building. He says others who had made inquiries about events at La Marquise did not have contracts and had not put down deposits. Read more on Petroleum Club's sweet new deal in a followup story here.]

Multiple sources tell ABiz La Marquise's deal with the Petroleum Club is off, and Glenn Stewart is selling or has sold the stunning, 16,000-square-foot building to an oyster bar, presumably Drago’s Seafood Restaurant & Bar for its long-planned expansion to Lafayette.

Petroleum Club and La Marquise, a failed women's clothing store that anchors the Parc Lafayette shopping center at the corner of Kaliste Saloom Road and Camellia Boulevard, entered into a lease arrangement last year, though detailed terms of the deal were never publicly disclosed.

Petroleum Club General Manager John O’Meara did not immediately return messages left at the club and on his cell phone.

Drago’s owner Tommy Cvitanovich declined comment early Wednesday afternoon. "As much as I'd like to announce details, I am still under a confidentiality agreement that I very much intend to honor," he says in an emailed response to ABiz's question about whether Drago's was taking over the La Marquise building. "Until my agreement is lifted, I cannot talk about any details. I can assure you that our family is very excited and anxious to open a Drago's in Lafayette."

This is what Cvitanovich told ABiz in a March 24 email:

I am very, very anxious to publicly spill the beans, but unfortunately as of today I am still under a confidentiality agreement. I can assure you Drago’s in Lafayette will happen, it will be a first class building, in a great location. I also hope to be able to share this very very soon and be serving the people of Lafayette late this summer. Thank you I look forward to talking to you soon and even serving you some oysters.

ABiz reported in late January that the plan to bring Drago’s to Lafayette was back on the front burner.

We will have more on this breaking story later today.