Aug. 9, 2024

Six months after a glycol leak forced Swamp Daddy’s Cajun Kitchen to close its downtown restaurant, a reopening is near.

Co-owner Inkaa Beaudion shared in a Facebook video Friday that the plan is to reopen in the Jones421 building soon.

“I’m really happy to share some news, some actual progress news,” she said. “We have certainly been working trying to make sure we are being intentional in what we do.”

They looked at other locations, she said, but ultimately decided to return to the space at 421 N. Phillips Ave.

“We’ve been through a lot in this space, but after much input and positive messages and encouragement that we’ve received from the community, from family, from friends … we are choosing to stay here, in the Jones building, and we have been doing some construction and painting and cleaning.”

She called the leak a serious situation that took time and will still require some more cleaning before it’s ready to reopen.

“We are doing our best to get things cleaned up and set back up,” she said, adding those who want to offer to help clean up the space are welcome too.

The restaurant is in need of servers, dishwashers and cooks. Some employees will be coming back, but more hiring will be needed, she said. Look for a job post through Indeed.com.

“We also are going to have some menu changes, in a good way,” Beaudion said. “We’ve taken a lot of feedback over the years of what people have wanted and what they’ve been craving.”

The ordeal has been trying but “I think it was a blessing in disguise, giving us an opportunity to see what we need to make things better,” she added.

While an official opening date is not confirmed, the hope is that it’s some time in September, Beaudion said, in time for her birthday.

“I feel like it will be a good birthday present to myself for us to be able to open up and celebrate together,” she said.

“It’s been a lot. We’ve certainly missed y’all.”