Turk File

POETS Downtown opens

by Leslie Turk

Jefferson Street restaurant and pub debuts during Festival with limited menu.

Photo by Kari Walker

It was a quick turnaround, but Lafayette nightclub entrepreneur Shannon Wilkerson made his goal of opening his new POETS restaurant in time for Festival International.

Wilkerson told The IND earlier this month that he'll close after Festival for training and reopen with a full menu in mid-May. The restaurant is located at 520 Jefferson St. in the former Pie Hole spot. It opens today at 3 p.m., Friday at 2 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at noon.

The original POETS closed in 2004 after the James Comeaux Road shopping center housing it was purchased for redevelopment. Wilkerson says he retained ownership of the POETS name and also kept a significant portion of the memorabilia, including the signs. Wilkerson hopes fond memories from the once-popular venue will help drive the success of the Downtown location.

Read more about the new venture here.