Lafayette's popular Mexican restaurant Coyote Blues has purchased the former Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon building on Acadian Thruway just south of Interstate 10 in Baton Rouge. According to Baton Rouge's Daily Report, Coyote Blues paid $2.1 million for the Lone Star site, which has been vacant since it was damaged by a fire earlier this year. Braxton Moody IV, who owns Coyote Blues on Johnston Street in front of the Mall of Acadiana, told the online news source that plans are to demolish the property and build a new location from the ground up.
Moody noted that he would like to open the new location in time for LSU football season. "This is a good time to be moving into Baton Rouge," he told Daily Report. "The major chains are pulling back, but we're blessed with the recovery and $118 a barrel oil." Coyote Blues will turn 5 years old this month. A Baton Rouge location has been in the works since the Moody family purchased the local restaurant from its founders more than a year ago.
At that time, Coyotes Blues' co-founder Simon Eid would not disclose financial terms of the deal. Sources close to the parties, however, told The Independent Weekly the restaurant's building, business and rights to the name sold for about $4 million.
The restaurant's concept is Mexican with a Cajun twist.