Through the Gigabit Community Fund, company will award grants of up to $30,000 to worthy projects through the end of 2018.
Section Turk File
Robideaux Pursues Plans for a UL/Downtown Bus Loop
A nifty new ride from campus to centre-ville could be the ticket to better Downtown development.
Lafayette Dealerships Flock to ‘Auto Row’
The number of car dealers on Johnston Street south is growing, and customers are taking notice.
As he recovers from his failed congressional bid, Scott Angelle faces the possibility that both his lucrative board position at Sunoco Logistics and political future are in jeopardy.
St. Landry Parish lumber mill gets new life
LeMoyen Mill & Timber LLC will acquire and invest an additional $2 million to develop a wood products manufacturing facility in LeMoyen. LeMoyen Mill & Timber, a wholly owned subsidiary of San Antonio-based Adobe Machinery Group, is repurposing a lumber mill previously operated by Bayou State Lumber Co.
Port Activity Offsets Some Energy Losses
Several multimillion-dollar projects, including a $14 million expansion of the Bayou Companies, are either underway or planned at the port.
In its second year, TEDxVermilionStreet grows up and delivers a powerful catharsis.
Between a ROD and a Hard Place
Clinging ever harder to the I-49 Connector’s Record of Decision, DOTD finds itself jeopardizing its project.
Lowering the Cost of Buying Local
By arming local farmers with on-demand logistics, a new food startup aims to make local produce more cost-competitive.
Cheryl Savant knows how to party. Children's parties done well top to bottom are something she's been doing since her nearly grown children were quite young.
Cyrogenic Manufacturing Heads to Calcasieu Parish
Dongsung FineTec’s 250-job facility will support LNG projects.
Louisiana Tax Amnesty Program resumes
Program gives individuals and businesses that have fallen behind on their taxes an opportunity to make a fresh start.
Community Foundation honors Hilliard
Longtime oilman to receive Leader in Philanthropy Award for Lafayette Parish Nov. 3; Van Eaton & Romero also honored..
TEDxVermilionStreet wraps up its first edition
With its first run a resounding success, TEDxVermilionStreet is poised to keep Lafayette pondering art, science and itself.
Stirling buys South Point Apartments
Real estate company renames Verot School complex Retreat at Acadian Point, plans upgrades.
Payday lenders cry foul on proposed regulation
Group is asking Sen. David Vitter for help, claims the feds are trying to gut the payday lending industry.
Tsunami's grand opening at Cypress Bayou Casino in Charenton was Friday, July 31.
One Lafayette-based production company is changing the way Hollywood and the rest of the country view Louisiana and its growing film scene.
Weekly unemployment insurance claims decrease
First-time claims for unemployment insurance in Louisiana for the week ending June 27 decreased from the previous week's total.
Lafayette Regional flies high in first quarter
April passenger counts shatter monthly record, increasing 8.5 percent from last year.
Got a world-changing idea hidden up your sleeve? TEDxVermilionStreet will give you a chance to reveal it.
New faces and old spaces coming to Café V
With period restoring renovations ongoing, Café V welcomes chef Jonathan Kastner to the kitchen.
DLRBA rolls out partnership with Uber
DLRBA partners with Uber to provide Downtown visitors safe travel to and from the district's eateries and watering holes.
“The things we say we want, let’s make them easy to do,” Chief Development Offi cer Carlee Alm-LaBar told council members on April 21 when the UDC was before the panel as an introductory ordinance.
Pete's returns to Papa Preston
After 20 years on the sideline, Pete's founder Preston Guidry has bought back into the burger game.
Roy Holleman launches franchise consulting biz
The longtime economic development expert has opened FranOwner, a franchise consulting and advisory business.
Boutique-styled senior living center planned for Lafayette
Avanti Senior Living has announced plans for a massive new senior living development in Lafayette.
The IT company will call the old Advertiser building on Jefferson Street home for at least the next year — until its new 50,000-square-foot office building at 538 Cajundome Blvd., designed by Architects Southwest and under construction by J.B. Mouton, is complete.
Lafayette Regional awaits arrival of free WiFi
Free WiFi service, complete the LUS Fiber's Gigabit Internet package, will be unveiled and launched Friday morning for travelers flying in and out of the Lafayette Regional Airport.
Local company included in $800M federal contract
Lafayette-based Truston Technologies has been awarded another contract with the U.S. Navy, its second since September.
Get Started NOLA calls out local entrepreneurs
Savvy start-ups, small business owners and entrepreneurs across Louisiana are invited to pitch at New Orleans Entrepreneur Week in an exclusive competition called Get Started NOLA.
Cox Communications adds home security and automation to its digital service bundles in Acadiana.
Drago’s Lafayette deal back on
Drago’s is back in town scouting locations — a story first reported by ABiz in 2012 — and has narrowed its decision to three potential sites.
Philippe's brings its fine wines to N.O.
Sebastien Simon, 26, plans a Crescent City connection for Philippe’s Wine Cellar.
2014 was a booming year for Lafayette real estate; will the trend continue?
Real estate had a big year in 2014, but so did the sale of freshly-built homes, breaking a record that had just been set the year before.
Daily Report: Jeff Kleinpeter steps down temporarily at Kleinpeter Dairy
The president and CEO issued a statement to ABiz Thursday evening, saying he expects to return in 30 days.
State treasury uncovers $31 million in life insurance benefits, including $500K for one widow, that should have been paid.
Airport sales tax collection starts in April
Airport commission reminds local businesses of start and end date on recently approved tax.
After only 15 months on the job, Advertiser Executive Editor Cindy McCurry-Ross accepts job offer to return to her hometown.
Narrowing of airport director candidates set for Thursday
The Director Search Committee interviewed the five men still in the running via video last week and is set to trim the field this week. The search committee appointed by the Lafayette Airport...
Mello Joy introduces Ragin' Cajuns Strong Championship Blend coffee
Emblazoned with UL's logo, dark roast coffee touts success of university's athletic programs. Lafayette-based Mello Joy Coffee Company has launched its Ragin' Cajuns Strong Championship Blend, a dark...
Architect Oubre named Outstanding Alum
Noted architect and co-founder/principal of Architects Southwest receives highest honor given to former student.
Glenn Stewart buys Rouses-anchored Westwood Village for $13M
Local developer's Lake Charles Gardens LLC purchases buildings and leases; land still owned by Dugas family. Photo by Robin May Parc Lafayette developer Glenn Stewart has purchased the Westwood...
Count-down begins for Courtesy Automotive's arrival in Broussard
Broussard will soon be the site of a new Courtesy Automotive dealership. Broussard will soon be the site of what Courtesy Automotive calls the "ultimate buying experience" with the opening...
Cleco Alternative Energy Center takes off
In late September Cleco and UL Lafayette showed off the Cleco Alternative Energy Center, where researchers explore ways to generate power by using renewable resources. "The center will help all...
The Saints and the NFL's tax-free status
What do Russell Long, Hale Boggs and the New Orleans Saints have to do with the NFL's comfortable federal tax status? What do Russell Long, Hale Boggs and the New Orleans Saints have to do with the...
BBB warns consumers about fake invoices from IDBS
Atlanta-based company sending fake invoices for services consumers say were never rendered On Oct. 6 the Better Business Bureau of Acadiana issued an alert about an Atlanta-based company called IDBS...
Project Front Yard has been launched to help us change our image and our habits. Photo by Robin May City-Parish President Joey Durel and IberiaBank Acadiana President Jerry Vascocu unveil Project...
New details in Carlos Russo theft case
Alleged victim is a Navy vet with brain trauma resulting from a car accident three decades ago.
Buswell gets 126 months in prison for securities fraud case
Richard Buswell was sentenced Tuesday to more than 10 years in prison for his role in an investment scheme that defrauded his clients of more than $6 million.
31 apply for airport director's job
Lafayette Regional seeking new leadership after longtime director Greg Roberts' June resignation. In a process that has thus far been open and transparent, 31 people are angling to become Lafayette...
Bell Helicopter's new Jet Ranger takes off with consumers
Excitement over Bell Helicopter's 505 Jet Ranger X is growing, as is the international demand for the state-of-the-art chopper, which will soon be manufactured at the company's first-ever Louisiana...
Constitutional amendment battle moves to airwaves
The Louisiana Hospital Association, Louisiana Nursing Home Association, Louisiana Pharmacists Association, ambulance providers and intermediate care facilities are pooling their resources and planning...
La. hospitals have $30B economic impact
New report also reveals negative results of Medicaid cuts. A new report reveals that hospitals acrosss the state, like Our Lady of Lourdes, have a combined $30 billion economic impact on Louisiana. A...
2 La. companies with Navy contracts worth $26.8M
The Pentagon says two Louisiana companies have Navy contracts worth a total of $26.8 million. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The Pentagon says two Louisiana companies have Navy contracts worth a total of $26.8...
Lafayette's Truston Technologies gets piece of $99M contract
Newcomer to Top 50 among five companies selected for Naval contract Truston Technologies, a Lafayette-based engineering, fabrication and construction company, is one of five entities awarded a major...
Butcher brothers buy Fernando's building in BR
Restaurant could see a little facelift,' Bobby Butcher tells Daily Report. Broussard-based Butcher Air Conditioning's John and Bobby Butcher have purchased the Coursey Boulevard building that houses...
Former secretary/paralegal pleads guilty to stealing $200k
Michelle D. Lavergne, who worked for the Lafayette law office of L. Clayton Burgess for 13 years, faces up to 10 years in prison. Michelle Lavergne The U.S. attorney's office announced this week that...
Lafayette's I-49 Connector gets $304k TIGER grant
"The connector is a crucial part of the larger I-49 South project from Lafayette to New Orleans that would convert U.S. 90 into an interstate-quality roadway." - U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu U.S....
BBB busts 3 local businesses for questionable quitting biz sales
Investigation finds Arnaud's Furniture, Carroll Building Specialties and Crazy Charlie's Shoes running misleading going-out-of-business sales. The BBB of Acadiana, which monitors local advertising,...
Potenza Marketing makes fastest-growing companies list. Inc. Magazine released its annual list of America's fastest growing privately owned companies, and this year Potenza Marketing made the cut,...
Local 101 class Friday A free program from Whole Foods for all Louisiana growers, food artisans and body care suppliers is slated for Friday for those interested in becoming a supplier for the store...
Calif. man arrested for insurance fraud in La.
AG says 50-year-old Terry Francis Savoy sold fraudulent Workers Compensation and Employers Liability insurance policies throughout the state. A Los Angeles man was arrested Friday in New Orleans for...
Francis Drilling Fluids buys Envirochem
Lafayette-based drilling fluids/frac sand distributor enhances service lines with purchase of Erath company.
Taco Sisters now serving breakfast
In addition to being one of Lafayette's favorite lunch spots, Taco Sisters has now set its sights on conquering the breaksfast crowd with the launch of a new AM menu. In addition to being one of...
Whole Foods announces opening date
Lafayette's first-ever Whole Foods Market will open its doors in September. Lafayette's first-ever Whole Foods Market will open its doors in September. According to a press release issued Thursday,...
Petroleum Club taking over Stewart's La Marquise
Long-established private club opening special events venue in failed women's store at Kaliste Saloom Road and Camellia Boulevard. Photo by Kari Walker On Sept. 1, La Marquise will officially become...
Former OHA employee gets probation in bid-rigging scheme
Citing 76-year-old Garnette Thomas' age and cooperation, federal judge says no jail time. Walter Guillory got 28 months in prison, and Kendall Anderson is awaiting his fate for their role in a...
From Silicon Valley to Silicon Bayou
This year has been a good one for Lafayette's IT sector, first with April's news of CGI's new technology center and then Monday's announcement from Silicon Valley-based Enquero that it will soon be...
Former Shaw exec convicted of insider trading
Scott David Zeringue faces a sentence of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and must forfeit his ill-gotten proceeds. Scott Zeringue A former executive of the Shaw Group pleaded...
ICYMI: State of the Economy report
If you weren't one of the 520 people who packed the Cajundome for ABiz and LEDA's annual State of the Economy report, view it here. Lafayette Economic Development Authority President and CEO Gregg...
Hopes remain high for state transportation reforms
State Sen. Norby Chabert's push to restructure the strategic decision-making process at DOTD crossed an important threshold last week with Gov. Bobby Jindal's signature on his cornerstone...
Louisiana's unemployed are getting a raw deal
It's a good thing Louisiana has one of the lowest jobless rates in the country, because our treatment of the unemployed is considered among the worst. It's a good thing Louisiana has one of the lowest...
Cleco reviews ‘strategic transaction' with third party
Utility company's shares rise .07 percent on confirmation it is evaluating possible sale. Cleco's Pineville headquarters Cleco Corporation (NYSE: CNL) shares closed up .07 percent Monday after the...
Polly Lane gets $17 million retirement complex
The Blake at Lafayette will offer 110 apartments for independent and assisted living and memory care residents. Architecture by GTF Design of Bedford, Texas/rendering by Corvin Mattei/New York The...
Starbucks clears college degree path for workers
Starbucks is giving its baristas a shot at an online college degree, an unusual benefit in an industry where higher education is often out of reach for workers. NEW YORK (AP) - Starbucks is giving its...
New figures show Louisiana's economy grew by 1.3 percent in 2013, lagging neighboring states and the nation. New figures show Louisiana's economy grew by 1.3 percent in 2013, lagging neighboring...
Commercial flight deal in the works for Acadiana Regional Airport
Acadiana Regional Airport in New Iberia plans to begin offering commercial flight service through United Airlines next year. If all goes as planned, passengers could be boarding flights out of...
Rodney Alexander quitting state veterans affairs post
The former U.S. Rep. is stepping down as head of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, a job he took last fall after quitting Congress. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Former U.S. Rep. Rodney...
Lafayette adds daily flights to Denver
In August United Airlines will begin offering daily nonstop flights to Denver, a big plus for oil companies working in Western and Midwestern states. Beginning Aug. 19, United Airlines will begin...
LUS Fiber Director Terry Huval announced during a press conference Tuesday that the public-owned internet provider will now start offering unheard of connection speeds for its residential...
LUS Fiber Director Terry Huval says the public-owned Internet provider will start offering unheard-of connection speeds for its residential customers. LUS Fiber Director Terry Huval says the...
Kergan family one step closer to justice - and closure
For three decades Ted Kergan has worked to solve the case of his brother's brutal murder, and a guilty plea last week is the most definitive sign yet that the Lafayette businessman and his family will...
MoveOn.org wants to keep billboard for entirety of Jindal's term
The billboard parodying Louisiana's "Pick Your Passion" tourism slogan won't be going away any time soon, thanks largely to a stream of donations prompted by a lawsuit from Lt. Gov. Jay...
Gauthiers' relocates and expands Houma facility
Lafayette-based supplier of oil and gas industry containers and support equipment relocates its Houma operations to 6-acre site on Highway 182. Bobby Gauthier, Robert Gauthier and Garett Gauthier By...
Glenn Stewart's La Marquise building on sale block
Doc-turned-developer's anchor structure could be yours for $4 million. Glenn Stewart's long-troubled anchor building is for sale, or lease, or can be subdivided and shared with La Marquise. While it's...
Fixing agriculture liabilities
Just one step away from the governor's desk are a group of bills that could lift a legal cloud hanging over state agriculture. Just one step away from the governor's desk are a group of bills that...
Louisiana's newspaper war continues
As The Advocate tries to encroach on The Times-Picayunes' public advertising business, other newspapers below I-10 are taking notice and doing what they can to protect their turf. As The Advocate...
O2 moves to River Ranch Brittani Bass Pitre has long been making skin glow at her Oil Center shop - O2 - and now she's heading to River Ranch and expanding with more retail and a much larger space. In...
Excelerant lands No. 11 spot on leadership list
National awards recognize outstanding achievement in leadership development and leadership programs Lafayette-based Excelerant ranked No. 11 in the MidSize (five to 49 employees) Leadership Partners...
Microsoft opening state's first specialty store in Mall of Louisiana
Smaller Microsoft Store installations sell a wide array of Microsoft products (Windows phones, Surface tablets and Xbox consoles) but don't include everything. Photo courtesy WinBeta The Mall of...
C & C Technologies, HIT Fitness, R3 Sciences, the Acadiana Symphony Association and the United Way of Acadiana recognized for innovation. Three Acadiana companies and two local non-profit...
Around Town: Zaxby's eyes Verot location
Georgia-based fried chicken chain would go up against Raising Cane's, Chick-fil-A and others (like the Popeyes near its proposed location). Zaxby's hopes to enter the Lafayette market with a...
Kendall Anderson pleads in federal housing probe
A Scott businessman has pleaded guilty to failing to report a conspiracy to award Opelousas Housing Authority construction bids to his company. LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - A Scott businessman has pleaded...
Around Town: Romacelli, Anytime Fitness commit to Couret Farms
Two additional tenants sign letters of intent for Phase I of lifestyle center. North Lafayette's traditional neighborhood development Couret Farms has signed two commercial tenants for half of its...
Panoses plead guilty in Desperado's case
Each facing 20 years in prison, couple are last two defendants in a 10-count indictment to plead guilty. James Panos, 56, and his wife Jennifer, 48, entered guilty pleas this week before U.S....
VER moves up to No. 2 in corporate group
Local Latter & Blum company now second only to sister entity in New Orleans
Around Town: Richard Young takes over T'Frere's
Area hospitality guru adds to his growing list of properties Photo by Robin May Richard Young's growing list of hospitality industry holdings now includes T'Frere's bed and breakfast. He is also the...
Old Advertiser press facility coming down
Demolition is part of long-term project to redevelop block of vacant buildings. Demolition of the old Advertiser printing press on Garfield Street commenced Monday to make way for a long-term...
Enclave: innovative community offers centered parks and plazas
There's a little something for everyone at the up-and-coming Enclave development, a community of townhouses situated around parks and plazas with contemporary twists located in Lafayette's historic...
We are becoming a community that plans ahead, sets goals and holds itself accountable for those goals. Our community has finally reached the point in the long two-year comprehensive planning process...
Anderson Iron Works owner charged in housing probe
In a tersely worded bill of information filed March 17, the U.S. Attorney's office charged contractor Kendall T. Anderson with a single count of misprision of a felony. In a tersely worded bill of...
Lafayette's 'makerspace' hosts open house Sunday
Drop by 401 E. Cypress St. for a tour of Lafayette's soon-to-be makerspace and an informal discussion on the space's potential and future activities. The community is encouraged to stop by 401 E....
Robbie's Gauging Service owner pleads in federal court
The owner of a Youngsville-based oil and gas company pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to one count of negligent discharge of pollutants. The owner of a Youngsville-based oil and gas company...
Home-grown Baton Rouge market/deli heads to Lafayette. Maxwell's Market, a home-grown Baton Rouge market and deli, is expanding to Lafayette this summer. The Lafayette location marks the grocer's...
Bestselling author Steven Johnson keynotes INNOV8 Awards luncheon
Deadline for submitting noms for annual competition is March 15 Bestselling author Steven Johnson will deliver the keynote address at this year's INNOV8 Lafayette Awards Show luncheon on April 29. The...
Whitney Bank bids farewell to downtown
Whitney Bank officials have confirmed that the downtown branch will cease to exist when it relocates its regional headquarters to River Ranch at the end of May. Whitney Bank officials have confirmed...
Around Town: Antlers Seafood & Steakhouse coming to Broussard
Downtown Lafayette restaurant launches new concept near Le Triomphe Antlers Seafood & Steakhouse will erect a 6,300-square-foot restaurant on this land near Le Triomphe in Broussard. This fall...
$10 minimum wage proposed in La.
Proposal for the upcoming legislative session would set Louisiana's minimum wage at $10 per hour, beginning in 2015, up from the federal rate of $7.25 per hour. www.orderofeducation.com BATON ROUGE,...
Local businessman forever impacted by Eastern Air Lines Flight 304 tragedy
Patrick Kane II recalls his mother awakening him 50 years ago to say his dad's plane was missing. Lafayette businessman Patrick Kane II has lived the Eastern Air Lines Flight 304 tragedy every day for...
Around Town: Panera Bread coming to Johnston at North College
CiCi's Pizza on Johnston Street will be torn down to make way for popular bakery-café Panera Bread's first Lafayette store. Photo by Kari Walker Panera Bread plans to open in early 2015 on Johnston...
Counterfeiters working out of Lafayette hotels off to prison
Trio conspired to cash counterfeit commercial checks at banks in Lafayette, Broussard, Crowley, Lake Charles and Sulphur A trio of Georgia men who worked out of Lafayette hotels to carry out their...
Around Town: Broaddus Burgers on Moss Street
Local concept will bring shuttered drive-in location back to life Photo by Kari Walker Former Sonic Drive-In will open as local concept, Broaddus Burgers, in mid-March, offering a...
Scholarship honors memory of Jerry Reaux
MidSouth Bank President and CEO Rusty Cloutier and the Reaux family say the fund will help a student studying finance at UL Lafayette. MidSouth Bank President and CEO Rusty Cloutier and the Reaux...
Around Town: Jared jewelry store coming to Lafayette
Vacant Burger King building razed for new jewelry store. Ohio-based national jeweler Jared is expanding to the Lafayette market, opening a freestanding store at 3601 Ambassador Caffery Parkway,...
Former W. Home Furnishings owner facing seven years in prison
Rene Michael Ward admitted to submitting false documents and lying to the Small Business Administration. In what appears to have been an elaborate scheme to defraud the government - one that...
At urging of former student, UL offers leadership minor
"[I]t is very unusual for a student to take the initiative to come up with an idea for a course of study and take on the project of developing it," says Dr. Jordan Kellman. UL Lafayette is...
Sterling Ford-Lincoln unveils $6 million dealership
Opelousas dealership's modern design enhances the customer's car shopping experience and streamlines the service process. Sterling Ford-Lincoln in Opelousas is the first ground-up Ford-Lincoln...
Around Town: Bread & Circus Provisions sets up shop
The innovative artisan foods concept puts down roots on Bendel Road Photo courtesy of Bread & Circus Provisions Bread & Circus Provisions gets ready to open its new location at 258 Bendel Road...
Around Town: Blow Bar salon to open in Parc Lafayette
Lafayette's first "dry bar" coming mid-January Get ready ladies, because Lafayette is about to get a little bit of big city glamour. Blow Bar, a locally owned salon offering hair styling,...
Grub Burger Bar opening on Kaliste Saloom
With Grub Burger Bar on its way, Five Guys and Burgersmith, two of Lafayette's newest burger joints, may soon get some pretty serious south Lafayette competition. Five Guys and Burgersmith, two of...
Lafayette airport sets record for November activity
Last month, 19,629 passengers boarded planes at the airport, and another 19,627 passengers deplaned, also the highest number on record for the month, according to the airport's figures released...
On heels of LC's major industrial expansion, PAR Realty heads west
More local companies expected to take advantage of economic boom. PAR Realty is expanding to Lake Charles, positioning itself for the opportunities sure to result from $46.6 billion in industrial...
Reality TV show eyes Ruffino's on the River
Could River Ranch restaurant be the next star? [Editor's Note: This story has been updated to include new information from Ruffin Rodrigue that the show would not be filmed in Lafayette, even if...
Around Town: Twin Peaks brings 'scenic views' to Lafayette
Move over Hooters - there's a new breastaurant coming to town. Move over Hooters - there's a new breastaurant coming to town. Twin Peaks, a sports bar and grill that serves "hearty man food and...
LPSS contributes $1 million to SLCC health building
Funds will expand Early College Academy from 250 to 1,000 students South Louisiana Community College is half way to its private match for a new Health and Sciences building on its Lafayette campus....
App for Dat: Blue Cross' 'BCBSLA' for iPhone
Get a map to your doctor's office, check the status of a claim and more with Blue Cross' new iPhone/Ipad app. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana announced Dec. 5 that customers can now find...
Leadership Lafayette Class XXVII announced
Leadership Institute of Acadiana and the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce announced the newly-selected Leadership Lafayette class for 2014. Leadership Institute of Acadiana and the Greater...
Pharma settlements climb to $238 million
State's three-year effort to recover funds from more than 100 pharmaceutical companies in pricing scheme comes to a close. Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell announced Nov. 20 that the state's...
Around Town: The Beet opens on Ambassador Caffery
ReadyFit Meals' second location also is home to organic juice bar The Beet, inside ReadyFit Meals on Ambassador Caffery, offers fresh juice and smoothies Oil Center business ReadyFit Meals opened its...
AROUND TOWN: The Lab opens a second location
Elements - a division of The Lab opens in Everything Else is Cake on Bertrand Drive Photos courtesy of The Lab and Everything Else is Cake Elements-a division of The Lab will operate inside...
Double R opening 40 Another Broken Eggs
Lafayette-based franchisee plans major expansion into South Florida
Around Town: Rouses on Johnston
Louisiana-based grocer opening second Lafayette store south of Acadiana Mall The supermarket chain Rouses is expanding its Lafayette operations with a 54,000-square-foot store at Johnston Street and...
Around Town: Drug Emporium expands
Look out Whole Foods, Drug Emporium was here first. Drug Emporium on Bertrand Drive near Rouses is getting a face lift and some extra space - a lot of extra space. The drugstore and natural foods...
Whole Foods developer 'jumping the gun'
Despite a press release to the contrary, some Whole Foods center tenants aren't confirmed. C'mon Ainbinder, what kind of operation are you running? On Thursday at about 4 p.m. a much-anticipated press...
Witness feats of strength and teamwork at this year's Corporate Challenge. By Kari Walker Oct. 15, 2013 Lafayette General Medical Center and Lafayette General Health have signed on as the title...
The Bright Side of Deepwater Horizon
Once the "Wild Wild West" when it came to complying with safety regulations, the oil and gas industry has made great strides since the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. By Patrick...
Grand accommodates hearing impaired
The Grand Theatres in Lafayette now feature CaptiView, a personal closed captioning system to acccomodate movie goers who are hearing imparied. The cinema has and remains to be a magical place where...
Le Virage Marina is a 10-acre residential development on Vermilion River offering residents a home away from home cottage-styled campsite, complete with all the amenities of city life and direct...
Acadiana boasted six graduates of the Louisiana Banking Association's 2012 Leadership School. Arceneaux Hargrave LeBlanc Acadiana boasted six graduates of the Louisiana Banking Association's 2012...
UL Alumni Assoc. honors Mosings at Spring Gala
The UL Lafayette Alumni Association will honor the Frank Mosing family at its 2013 Spring Gala on April 20 from 6:30-10 p.m. at the Alumni Center. From left, Donald Mosing; the late Frank and Jessie...
Promotional Feature: Planning all the way to the end
Planning a meeting or convention for any company can seem like a monumental task, and usually the bigger the event, the more tedious the planning becomes. Planning a meeting or convention for any...
Heavy hitters dominate Horse Farm board
At his State of the Parish address Feb. 6 at the Cajundome Convention Center, City-Parish President Joey Durel announced the formation of the nonprofit Lafayette Central Park Inc., the entity that...
Reggie lecturing at Loyola College of Law
Fred Reggie, president of Fred Reggie Associates and The Trial Coach, has been invited by Loyola University New Orleans College of Law to address third year law students on Feb. 28. Reggie's talk will...
La.'s sales tax burden earns bronze
The right-leaning Tax Foundation's annual breakdown of state and local sales tax rates finds Louisiana third in the nation for the highest combined sales taxes. Currently, Pelican State consumers pay...
SCOLA agrees to hear pharma appeal
The Supreme Court of Louisiana has agreed to hear an appeal by a pharmaceutical company hit with massive penalties after a St. Landry Parish jury found it had overstated the benefits and underplayed...
LHC Group buying Addus HomeCare assets for $20m
LHC Group Inc. (Nasdaq: LHCG) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the home health service line of Addus HomeCare Corp. (Nasdaq: ADUS) in a deal valued at $20 million. The transaction is...
On Dec. 7 the U.S. Attorney's Office was forced to notify local media that the Clerk of Court for the Western District of Louisiana had inadvertently released a sealed affidavit (apparently to The...
New generation keeps the downtown lunch spot's gravy flowing. The Dwyer's Café legacy is continuing downtown as owner Michael Dwyer passes the reins to his sons. Brent Dwyer, 32, and Craig Dwyer, 38,...
It's strike two for residential and commercial utility customers in Opelousas who sued Cleco over a post-Katrina rate hike. A pair of combined class-action lawsuits representing Opelousas residents...
A state appeals court puts the kibosh on an oil service company's attempt to prove collusion in an embezzlement case. A Lafayette Parish oil services company has hit a road block - the 3rd Circuit...
Long considered adversaries, the wind and fossil fuel industries have more in common than you think. Long considered adversaries, the wind and fossil fuel industries have more in common than you...
IberiaBank launches homebuyer grant program
IberiaBank announced Sept. 18 that it is launching a grant program for qualified customers trying to purchase a home or refinance their current home loans. IberiaBank announced Sept. 18 that it is...
Forum investing $19 million in manufacturing plant
On Sept. 12 Gov. Bobby Jindal and Houston-based Forum Energy Technologies CEO Cris Gaut announced the company's plans to build a new 150,000-square-foot facility in St. Martin Parish. The facility...
Lafayette makes CNN's ‘Where the Jobs Are' list
The Hub City has received another accolade for its economy and job strength, taking the No. 17 spot on CNN Money's "Where the Jobs Are," which ranks the top 25 counties for job growth across...
New biz park going up in Iberia
Iberia Economic Development Authority has purchased six acres to jump-start the development of a business park, Progress Point Business Park, near Acadiana Regional Airport. IEDA will purchase an...
Patricia Leyendecker An LCG veteran and longtime Department of Community Development employee has been chosen to head the department. City-Parish President Joey Durel's office announced that Patricia...
Paul Michael Co. expands River Ranch space
Paul Michael Company now has more floor space to display a wider variety of its furniture and accessories, many of which are designed by founder Paul Michael himself and produced at its Dermott, Ark.,...
Sources say Weatherford is consolidating facilities in Broussard. Sources with knowledge of oilfield giant Weatherford's plans for its Broussard site off U.S. 90 tell ABiz the company has purchased 60...
Moody's gets moody on La. Medicaid crisis
July 26, 2012 \Moody's Investors Service, a major bond ratings agency, is painting a gloomy picture of Louisiana's future fiscal health due to the state's loss of more than $850 million in Medicaid...
By Walter Pierce July 26, 2012 Shell Oil Co. has learned the hard way how effective social media can be - at not only spreading your message but at distorting it. By Walter Pierce July 26,...
N.O.-based Smoothie King sold to Korean group
By Leslie Turk July 26, 2012 SK USA Inc., a division of Korea-based SK Group, bought controlling interest in Smoothie King Franchises Inc. of Metairie from co-founders Steve and Cindy Kuhnau. The...
North meets south for like-minded lawmakers
July 26, 2012 A North Louisiana lawmaker has teamed up with Acadiana reps to fund Lafayette area infrastructure projects he calls "incredibly vital" to the state's economy. On July 10 state...
Lafayette banks take on Houston
Photo by Robin May Two regional banks anchored in Lafayette are making notable leaps into the Houston banking market. By Heather Miller July 26, 2012 IberiaBank's loan portfolio in the Houston market...
Devon Energy's 4th Tuscaloosa well best ye
By ABiz Staff July 26, 2012 Devon Energy's fourth horizontal well in the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale is producing 384 barrels of oil per day, its strongest yet. Louisiana DNR Secretary Scott Angelle...
Rum tasting coming to an interstate near you
By Heather Miller July 26, 2012 The stretch of I-10 near Lacassine will be a bit more spirited by the end of the year when Louisiana Spirits, a new rum distillery under construction in Jeff Davis...
Creations By Fire's Danielle Moss A pharmaceutical rep by day, jewelry maker Danielle Moss dove headfirst into her maiden business venture. By Walter Pierce July 26, 2012 Creations by Heat just...
Disappointed by the court's decision, the advocate for many who lost their life savings in Stanford Ponzi scheme calls on the SEC to appeal. By Leslie Turk July 26, 2012 In yet another disappointing...
LGMC one of nation's ‘Most Wired' hospitals
By Leslie Turk July 26, 2012 Lafayette General Medical Center is the only hospital in the state to be recognized as one of the nation's 200 "Most Wired," according to results of the 2012...
UL System Prez Throws in the Towel
With no plan or vision for the future of higher education coming out of the Jindal administration - just cuts - Randy Moffett announces his retirement. By Leslie Turk July 26, 2012 It certainly...
LHC Group's Legal Woes Continue Local home health provider, which last year paid the feds $65 million to settle a dispute over its billing practices, now faces a potential class action. By Leslie...
Delhomme Joins MidSouth Bank as Advisory Director QB serving as bank's goodwill ambassador' UL Lafayette great-turned-NFL quarterback Jake Delhomme was named advisory director at MidSouth Bank by the...
Drago's halts plans for Lafayette location - for now
Lafayette has a special place in the heart of the man who gave away almost 80,000 meals after Hurricane Katrina. And he'd like nothing more than to bring his famous charbroiled oysters to town.
Fired Up and Ready Tabasco turns up the heat on its effort to save America's wetlands. By Leslie Turk McIlhenny Company has stepped up in a big way to save America's wetlands. At a press conference...
Summit with a View JohnPac vendors gather the Louisiana way. By Dominick Cross If you follow Louisiana Hwy. 82 southward toward the Gulf of Mexico, you'll...
Ex-Stanford adviser: Moreno lost $20 million Lafayette businessman Mike Moreno got more than half of his money out of Stanford Group but still had $20 million invested in the company when regulators...
Cottage Landing, a student housing project, is under construction at 301 Coolidge St. in the Oil Center. Student Cottages Going Up On Coolidge For the first time this fall, UL students will have the...
Lafayette native pitches winning idea at startup weekend By Erin Z. Bass Project manager and community organizer with Lafayette's FiberCorps, Crawford Comeaux took first place during Baton Rouge's...
A Taxing Debate Is it time lawmakers address Louisiana's century-old taxing model for the oil and gas industry? By Jeremy Alford Although the oil and gas industry's impact on Louisiana's economy...
LAGCOE Looey A generous benefactor with six decades of oil running through his veins, Bo Ramsay earns LAGCOE's highest honor. This year the Louisiana Gulf Coast Oil Exposition placed the symbolic...
Mulate's No More By Wynce Nolley Pont Breaux's keeps famous Breaux Bridge Cajun eatery's memory alive. Mulate's No More By Wynce Nolley Pont Breaux's keeps famous Breaux Bridge Cajun eatery's memory...
Shifting Gears A retired couple's leap into an oil change franchise on Ambassador Caffery fares far better than expected. By Andrea Gallo Marc and Karen Hayden of Express Oil Change Shifting Gears A...
Wednesday, July 27, 2011 Centanni replaces Thierry at Chamber SWLA An incredible opportunity to move up the chamber ladder has one Acadiana native off to Dallas, but her old job is keeping another...
**Ready, Set, Geaux **Wednesday, June 29, 2011 By Wynce Nolley New oil center running store aims to take advantage of its proximity to Girard Park. Ready, Set, Geaux Wednesday, June 29, 2011 By Wynce...
The Switch Is On The Opportunity Machine's latest tool aims to create a workspace that promotes interaction between startups. By Wynce Nolley Downtown Lafayette is starting to see a new trend in...
Wednesday, April 27, 2011 The acquisition helps one of Acadiana's top employers expand its onshore footprint. Quality Companies, an oilfield construction and fabrication group that has earned a spot...
Parallel Argument Lawmakers side with energy industry over taxing horizontal drilling. By Jeremy Alford Two legislative oversight committees voted March 14 to reject a proposed set of rules created by...
Walk-On's Brandon Landry, manager Tony Caballero and Jack Warner Scouting Report Two former LSU basketball players enter Lafayette's sports bar scene. By Anna Purdy Most stories that begin with bar...
Extending Its Lead With its acquisition of Stirling's local residential division, VER's market dominance grows to 36.5 percent. Van Eaton & Romero, already the largest real estate brokerage firm...
Follow the Lady Hamilton Medical Group heads to new Lourdes complex. Founded in 1928 in the Oil Center and housed on the Regional Medical Center of Acadiana's grounds on Congress Street (formerly...
Redefining Corporate Giving Community Foundation of Acadiana spreads its giving message with a new campaign this holiday season. By Erin Z. Bass Giving back frequently enters into the lexicon this...
Turk File October/November 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010** Project Give ** A recent LSU grad and Lafayette native aims to create a business model for giving. Lafayette native Chase Brumfield was preparing to graduate from LSU...
Wednesday, September 29, 2010** Supply and Demand** Demand for rig worker relief was lower than forecasted, but the program could be expanded. By Jeremy Alford By Sept. 22 only 419 rig workers...
**Prime Positioning Wednesday, August 25, 2010 Written by Nathan Stubbs Van Eaton & Romero hopes its new location-based website will help usher in the future of real estate shopping.** It's the...
Wednesday, July 28, 2010** Compiled and edited by Leslie Turk**** Blooming Nonsense** Until July 12 it was easier to sell a gun in Louisiana than a floral arrangement. That's the day Gov. Bobby Jindal...
Wednesday, June 30, 2010 Compiled and Edited by Leslie Turk WALK-ON'S OPENING ON KALISTE SALOOM ROAD Baton Rouge-based Walk-On's Bistreaux and Bar, a concept founded by two former LSU basketball...
Snap 103.7's classic rock enters market You can now tune your dial to 103.7 FM for classic hits with an emphasis on classic rock on Delta Media's new "Snap 103.7." The locally owned media...
SEC AWARE OF STANFORD PONZI SCHEME SINCE 1997 The Robert Allen Stanford alleged Ponzi scheme and its impact on middle class investors still isn't getting the media attention it deserves. On April 16,...
MAZDA NOW PART OF VEGA LINEUP Lafayette auto dealer Adrian Vega has added Mazda to his Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep franchises on Evangeline Thruway across from the airport. In mid-March, Vega received...
2009 RETAIL SALES SLIDE 11.6 PERCENT After climbing steadily since 2002, retail sales slid 11.61 percent last year, falling from $5.4 billion in 2008 to $4.8 billion. December 2009's $466 million in...
UL’S SIMON-DRONET JOINS COX UL Lafayette spokeswoman Julie Simon-Dronet has joined Cox Louisiana as director of operations for Acadiana, a newly created position. As part of her duties, Dronet assumes...
EXXONMOBIL PUTS $41 BILLION INTO FUTURE OF NATURAL GAS ExxonMobil’s plan to put $41 billion into the purchase XTO Energy Inc. has Louisiana oil and gas officials riding a natural gas high. “Exxon’s...
Receiver releases Stanford investors’ funds Stanford Group Co. investors like Troy Lillie of Maurice, who moved their money out of the controversial CDs and into another Stanford account before the...
Scott: forecast not so rosy for lafayette Speaking to a sold-out crowd at the Cajundome Convention Center Oct. 13, Louisiana economist Loren Scott pointed to two major areas of concern for Lafayette’s...
BRING BACK MY JOHNSTON ST. ADRIEN’S Though it had only been open for about a year, the Johnston Street Adrien’s Supermarket had already become a favorite for many shoppers in the area. A clean store,...
Stanford whistleblower testifies in BR When Stanford financial adviser Leyla Wydler of Houston could not get answers from her bosses about the safety of the so-called CDs issued by the company’s...
KLFY has new owner, new managing group Young Broadcasting, parent company of Lafayette CBS affiliate KLFY TV-10, is being purchased after all — by its lenders. A group of Young’s bankers has agreed...
AG seeking Lafayette Stanford victims While speculation has been rampant that Lafayette is among the communities hard hit by the Stanford financial scandal, with Baton Rouge said to be the primary...
HATCHET COMES DOWN AT ADVOCATE The Independent Weekly’s Jan. 21 cover story “Chain Gang” explored the ongoing layoffs at The Daily Advertiser, whose parent company, Gannett, had been slashing its...
Former Advertiser reporter part of Pulitzer-winning team Announced Tuesday, April 21, the prestigious Pulitzers included the work of a familiar name. Former Daily Advertiser reporter Angie Drobnic...
BR INVESTORS SUE STANFORD ADVISERS A group of 10 Baton Rouge area investors filed suit March 17 in 19th Judicial District Court against six Stanford Group Co. and Stanford Capital Management advisers...
State Rep. Fred Mills: No involvement with Stanford State Rep. Fred Mills, president of Farmers-Merchants Bank & Trust, says he has no business relationship with Stanford Group Co. A few years...
Courtesy's Hargroder buying Schoeffler While uncertainty looms for car dealers across the country — and even some locally — Courtesy Automotive Group’s Don Hargroder has been taking advantage of every...
Apple store (OK, almost) comes to Lafayette Jared Stepp and Eric Smith, the 29- and 32-year-old duo that operated the Apple certified repair business My Digital Phoenix in Lafayette for the past...
More shakeup at LITE The day after the LITE Commission issued a statement that Dr. Carolina Cruz-Neira would step down from the top post as executive director and continue serving as its full-time...
Jones Walker makes its move For the past 17 years a handful of local attorneys has been working in Lafayette to build a solid clientele for the regional law firm Jones Walker, primarily focusing on...
Andoli's Sandwich Press opens downtown There’s no getting around it. We’re caffeine junkies. When Café Bonjour, the downtown coffee shop, closed in June, folks downtown started getting squirrely,...
Facebook helps nab alleged Kiki thief When a $330 Marc Jocobs clutch was stolen the afternoon of July 21 from kiki in Baton Rouge’s Perkins Rowe (a store owned by Lafayette retailer Kiki Frayard),...
Maria Placer moving on After more than four decades at KLFY-TV10, Maria Placer is moving over to the information and referral center 232-HELP/211, assuming the role of executive director. The position...
Bizzuka, Stuller partner to help indie jewelers Local Web site developer Bizzuka Inc. is part of a joint partnership with National Jeweler, the leading trade magazine covering the jewelry industry,...
Off to the races With local interest in thoroughbred racing skyrocketing again thanks to Maurice native Kent Desormeaux’s second shot at the Triple Crown on June 7, this could be another banner year...
BBR Creative leaving downtown The award-winning marketing and advertising firm BBR Creative is relocating from downtown later this year. The 11-year-old firm, which specializes in brand building for...
La. sharing revenues in historic lease sale The U.S. Minerals Management Service’s March 19 auction of oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico totaled $3.67 billion, shattering 1983’s record $3.4...
Adrien’s expanding to Grand Marche center on Johnston One of Lafayette’s favorite independent grocers is expanding with a second location on Johnston Street at Camellia Boulevard in the Grand Marche...
Don Bacqué named to airport commission City-Parish President Joey Durel made a wise choice in naming former state Rep. Don Bacqué to fill the unexpired term of Don Higginbotham, who resigned from the...
North Lafayette company inks Home Depot deal North Lafayette's Exterior Specialties last week signed a multi-million deal with Metals USA to be the Houston-based company's exclusive distributor of a...
Mello Joy on the move? In the heated competition between Community Coffee and Mello Joy, the red bag has had a leg up — until now. Mello Joy wants to relocate its out-of-state roasting operation to...
LHC Group's buying spree continues Last week Lafayette-based health care provider LHC Group, which has been on a buying spree since its initial public offering in mid-2005, announced that it has...
Zeus' expansion continues Nidal Balbeisi of Zeus success is taking over the former Popeye's Chicken & Biscuits location at 4100 Johnston St. to launch the prototype for a potential fast-food...
French provincial cuisine coming downtown The Russo Ad Group building on the corner of East Congress and Polk streets plans to house a new restaurant, BoCo on the Parc, this fall. Louis...
Raising the Bar Taking its cue from the upscale bar scene of cities like Manhattan and Chicago, Jefferson Street's piano bar "Lounge." is setting a new standard in downtown Lafayette....
Café Habana City coming to Bertrand Drive The former Burger Tyme building on Bertrand Drive that's been vacant for years will house Café Habana City early next year. Rafael Garcia, who launched the...
One Hot Market The launch of kiki in The Market at River Ranch along with a host of new tenants opening in coming months will leave the Kaliste Saloom Road center with only a single space to lease,...
Krispy Convenience Col. Sanders has his secret fried chicken recipe and so does Lafayette's Neal Onebane. The owner of multiple Lafayette Pop-N-Go convenience stores in the late 1980s, Onebane was a...
ADVERTISER BUILDING UP FOR MIXED-USE PROJECT Logan Trotter, son of once prominent Lafayette businessman Billy Trotter, has options to buy the old Daily Advertiser building on Jefferson Street and is...
Back Yard Burgers coming A grocery store owner known for his homemade hamburgers turned that recipe into a fast-food drive-thru concept in 1987 in Cleveland, Miss. In 1993 the company went public and...
Tsunami Sisters' Lofty Living Lafayette's Tsunami Sushi sisters are planning a downtown loft development in the former Club 410 building next to their popular restaurant. Leah Simon and Michele Ezell...
Ghassan Harb Opens Mazen's The longtime City Club manager has struck out on his own and is launching a local version of Lake Charles' popular Mazen's, a dinner-only Mediterranean restaurant. Harb...
Home Furniture Takes Over Former AutoZone Center Lafayette-based Home Furniture has scrapped plans to construct a $5 million distribution facility on a 15-acre tract near the intersection of Galbert...
Lafayette native Jim Flores' company buying Stone Energy Plains Exploration and Production Co.'s plan to buy Lafayette's troubled Stone Energy Corp. in a stock-for-stock and debt assumption deal...
Home meals without the fuss Acadiana natives Neal and Ashley Guidry are bringing home cooking ' in the form of a Ft. Worth-based franchise ' to Lafayette's too-busy-to-cook population. Super Suppers,...
Old is New at Pete's Mark Hutchinson relocated to Lafayette from Houston last year in search of a new venture. The Lafayette native ' a Lafayette High School and UL alum ' came home to raise his two...
Tee Mulate's opens In New Orleans' Warehouse District After suffering massive damage from Hurricane Katrina, Kerry Boutté's well-known Mulate's in New Orleans' warehouse district has reopened ' in a...
Courtesy takes over Pontiac, Buick "Pontiac Point" is no more, but the Mann family is staying put in downtown Lafayette. In a rather unusual move, the Manns of Louisiana Motors sold their...
Lafayette's WB becomes full-power station. After Jan. 1, 2006, Lafayette's local cablecast WB affiliate, KLWB, will air in more local households when it becomes a full-power analog broadcast...
A Second (or Third) Opinion Baton Rouge appraiser Tom Cook knows Lafayette well enough to understand the dynamics of its real estate market, and he's perplexed over the methodology used to appraise...
UL aims to sell horse farm for commercial development. UL Lafayette officials have applied for rezoning of a large portion of the university's horse farm property on Johnston Street, across from Mel's...
A New Harvest: Great Harvest's whole-grain breads are coming to Lafayette. J.P. and Michelle MacFadyen aren't your typical entrepreneurial team. Both 39 years old, he's a Pittsburgh native and...
Downtown Versailles Centre plans to regain Class A status The 136,000-square-foot Versailles Centre, an office building that houses such tenants as Preis, Kraft & Roy law firm, MidSouth Bank, and...
N.O.'s BBQ coming to Pinhook Wal-Mart New Orleans' VooDoo BBQ & Grill has found a new home in Lafayette ' the Wal-Mart Supercenter on Pinhook Road. The new location, however, will be doing...
Dressed for Success The seed for Moseley & Hollard Men's Clothing, a new store opening in River Ranch's Onebane office building in early August, was planted almost two decades ago. Joe Moseley...
Heart Hospital and Lourdes explore 'mutually beneficial partnership' On the heels of last year's breakdown in talks between Lafayette General Medical Center and the Heart Hospital of Lafayette comes...
Café Roma coming to River Ranch One of the Crescent City's well-known Taste Buds, the culinary talent behind the Semolina and Zea Rotisserie & Grill concepts, is part of a New Orleans-based...
Bojangles abandons Lafayette plan, eyes Baton Rouge expansion Gordon Doerle hopes to secure a lease in downtown Baton Rouge for a second location of his dance club Bojangles, which has been...
SoHo living invades Lafayette A young New Orleans developer has teamed up with local architect Steve Oubre to bring a $15 million "true New York style SoHo loft living" project to...
River Ranch lands the big fish After months of negotiations ' and a close deal that almost brought it to the bottom floor of the new four-story Onebane office building on Camellia Boulevard ' River...
Redmond Marine takes over former Alex Stirling spot Raney Redmond is moving Redmond Marine from its small space on General Mouton into the former Alex Stirling Marine building at 1724 General Mouton....
Body Masters seeks protection from creditors After almost three decades of turning out some of the highest quality exercise equipment in the world, Body Masters Sports Industries of Rayne is seeking...
Downtown boutique hotel confirms plans The 20-room boutique hotel planned for 800 Jefferson St., in the building commonly known as La Parisienne, will get under way in March, says Kimberly Schuler,...
Uncertainty clouds local TV media Is KLFY TV10's chief "degreed" meteorologist going the way of most talented broadcasters who cut their teeth at one of Lafayette's two network news...
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