Pat’s Downtown will close this week after the owner announced he is retiring from the restaurant industry.
Owner Patrick Dupuis made the announcement on Facebook Saturday evening, indicating the longtime eatery at 107 E. Main St. will have its last day of business on Friday.
Pamplona, which is located nearby at 631 Jefferson St., will move into the space to begin serving lunches, he said.
“After 30 unforgettable years, I’ve made the hard but heartfelt decision to retire from the restaurant industry,” he wrote. “This journey wouldn’t have been possible without the steady commitment of my loyal employees, some who have worked with me for 20-plus years. It also wouldn’t have been possible without my family, parents, siblings and friends who have all contributed to the legacy that is Pat’s Downtown.”
The restaurant, which at one time had a second location on Kaliste Saloom Road, has been a popular destination in downtown Lafayette, known for its Cajun staples such as po-boys and gumbo, and often hosted events and political gatherings.
It had to close for six months during the height of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 after both Dupuis’s were hospitalized with the virus.
