Buc-ee’s is known for its large stores with dozens of fuel pumps, clean bathrooms and aisles of snacks. In 2016 the chain was considering a Baton Rouge location, but those plans fell through.
In this 1978 photo, longtime Acadian Ambulance CEO and president Richard Zuschlag is pictured with emergency responders and ambulances parked on Cajun Field for a photo.
An order of chicken fajitas is pictured during a soft opening at Superior Grill Friday, July 12, 2024, in Lafayette, La.
Buc-ee’s is known for its large stores with dozens of fuel pumps, clean bathrooms and aisles of snacks. In 2016 the chain was considering a Baton Rouge location, but those plans fell through.
In this 1978 photo, longtime Acadian Ambulance CEO and president Richard Zuschlag is pictured with emergency responders and ambulances parked on Cajun Field for a photo.
An order of chicken fajitas is pictured during a soft opening at Superior Grill Friday, July 12, 2024, in Lafayette, La.
The Buc-ee’s-to-Lafayette story hit us like a wrecking ball in 2025. It is easily this year’s top story in Acadiana business.
For years a rumor, negotiations made a first public appearance in June when the store went before the Lafayette Consolidated Government’s board of zoning adjustments to get approval for its layout and store design.
From there, the momentum kept going. The Lafayette City Council OK’d a special economic district that allows only the store to charge up to a 2% sales tax to help with infrastructure.
It reached a crescendo this month the store signed the papers on its deal to purchase 42 acres at the corner of Louisiana Avenue and Interstate 10 for what could end up being the Buc-ee’s store in the state.
Plans for the store include 120 gasoline pumps, 608 parking spaces 20 Tesla parking spots and 11 bus parking spots to go with the 74,000-square-foot store. If you know your Buc-ee’s stores, that will be just shy of the 75,000-square-foot store outside San Antonio that bills itself as the biggest Buc-ee’s on the planet.
Why is this a big deal? It’s instant street cred for Lafayette from anyone driving along I-10. It’s also a major sales tax source for the city and upgrades that Louisiana Avenue exit and the north Lafayette into a major retail destination.
Here are the other top Acadiana business stories of 2024:
2. Richard Zuschlag dies: The longtime chairman and CEO of Acadian Companies and co-founder of one of the most visible enterprises in the region died in June.
He and two other started the business as an ambulance service in 1971 when they saw a gap in the market. Today it has 5,200 employees and operates in four states and 37 parishes in Louisiana.
Why is this a big deal? Zuschlag is a Lafayette legend, a true come-from-basically nothing businessman who used hard work and determination to grow the company into a major regional employer and ambulance service. He was also known for his generosity in the region and his ability to connect with elected officials on both sides of the aisle.
3. Superior Grill opens: The anticipation for this restaurant’s opening rose to another level. It took some time – 2 ½ years after Frank Randol sold the land to the company – but Superior Grill opened in July, and it’s still hard to find a parking spot when you go.
Lafayette had been on the company’s radar for over 20 years, but it wasn’t until Jeff Landry and Rex Moroux with Scout Real Estate in Lafayette came up with a list of potential buyers for Frank Randol’s property. Superior Grill was at the top of their list.
Why is this a big deal? Superior Grill is often praised for its food, but the building and the setup inside take local dining to another level. And let’s face it: it’s one less than that Baton Rouge has that Lafayette doesn’t.
4. Four-story hotel planned for downtown Lafayette: Last month local investors made the biggest downtown development splash in years: they will build an 83-room, four-story boutique hotel on the former Don’s Seafood and Steakhouse site. .
The local ownership group, Gus Rezende, Ryan Pecot, BJ Crist and John Peterson, will partner with The Thrash Group and Tandem Hospitality Group to build the $19 million hotel that will also feature a restaurant space, an outdoor pool and 2,500-square-foot event spaces.
The hotel, which is expected to open in mid-2026, will be built on one of the most attractive sites in downtown.
Why is this a big deal? It would be the largest project in years downtown, probably ever. This could be a real catalyst project. That might be an over-used term, but you have to wonder if this would have happened had the Lofts at The Municipal would have never happened.
5. Waitr files for bankruptcy: Once a crown jewel in the Lafayette startup scene, Waitr officially died in April when its parent company filed for bankruptcy in April.
The delivery company, which was acquired by Texas millionaire Tilman Fertitta’s Landcadia Holdings in 2018 for $308 million and later rebranded as ASAP in 2022, struggled following its initial acquisition of Minnesota-based Bite Squad in 2019 before founder and CEO Chris Meaux and the company parted ways.
Waitr Holdings’ stock price, at $14 a share in March 2019, was at 42 cents just before it was delisted last spring.
Why is this a big deal? It was a major startup splash for Lafayette when it started. It was a major employer and a business that was a bit ahead of the national trend. Most startups get bought in nine or 10 years, and Waitr was bought in five.
Market Eatz Broussard, Original Ground Pat’i, Bus Stop Bistro in Carencro, Mr. C’s Landing, Drago’s Seafood, Burger King locations near UL and the Evangeline Thruway, Agave Mexican Grill & Cantina on E Broussard Road, Pyro’s Burgers and Wings in Youngsville.
Boston Market at TA Truck Stop, Hooters, Sawa All You Can Eat Sushi & Hibachi, Gather, Zero Degrees, Home Cut Donuts, Café 20.3, Bismilla Grocery, Coffee Dash, Jammin Java in Youngsville.
Café Coachella, Swanky’s Downtown in Carencro, Victoria’s Café, Market Eatz Broussard, Le Café, Breaux Bridge, Chili’s, Pinhook Road, Dozo Restaurant, Café Lola, Rue Louis XIV, Villager Café in Youngsville
1. Krispy Krunchy Chicken mover to Atlanta
2. Buc-ee’s is closing in on a deal to come to south Louisiana.
3. A Lafayette company has celebrity clients, legendary singers and prominent actors. Meet the owner
4. Buc-ee’s clears hurdle for Lafayette location with target opening of 2025 holiday season
5. KADN lays off 19, including four from its morning show, as part of extensive companywide cuts
6. Two restaurants, one with a Cameron connection, will replace these popular Lake Charles venues
7. At this downtown Lafayette bar, the windows are blacked out and you’ll need a code to get in
8. Work has already started on the old Hooters space in Lafayette. Here’s what’s moving in.
9. Louisiana casino to build new, $150 million hotel with 204 rooms: ‘All high end’
10. National bookseller to close Lafayette location as a new store prepares to open nearby
Waitr bankruptcy. The company’s slide was so gradual that it was almost like watching a bad horror film. You knew how it was going to end. But that’s not to make light of it. In 2019, Waitr was the it company in Lafayette. That’s where the cool people worked, and the Lafayette-born company gave local people a chance to brag about their town.
“People want to be able to walk indoors to outdoors without opening a door. They don’t want to see any doors. They want the wall to just disappear. So we’ll build an entire wall to a living room that goes out to the patio but the whole wall sinks into the basement.”
Jude David, whose Lafayette-headquartered company acquired New York-based Reilly Architectural, which was part of the luxury division of Pella Corp.
“It was a bitter day, actually. I guess, in my mind, had I still been there, would the end result have been the same or would it have been better? Pretty tragic and didn’t have to be that way, at least in my opinion.”
Waitr founder and former CEO Chris Meaux on Waitr Holdings filing for bankruptcy and ceasing operations.
“Richard was just this unique enigma of a personality that was a combination of Nick Saban, Henry Kissinger and Sam Walton all rolled into one. Everything he did he demanded perfection at, and sometimes you wanted to pull your hair out, but looking back it made me a better business person.”
Tyron Picard, CEO of The Picard Group and former executive vice president and board member with The Acadian Companies, on the death of Richard Zuschlag.
“From his initial vision for Jet, you could tell he had really big dreams. I mean, it was nothing. No one even knew what Jet was, but to him it was like the place had been open for 10 years.”
Gabby Constant, early employee with Jet Coffee and now manager, on co-owner John Tommasini, who now has four locations in Lafayette and plans to open in Baton Rouge and St. Tammany Parish.
“The current status is no longer acceptable. Now people will write articles and talk about the negative impacts of what the Connector will do. Don’t fall into the trap that this will hurt the community. There can be no further hurt, no further pain than what has been felt by the blight, by the crime.”
State Sen. Gerald Boudreaux on the current state of the Evangeline Thruway corridor in north Lafayette.
Buc-ee’s progress: For obvious reasons, but here’s what to keep an eye on: all the parcels around that area that are for sale. Development does not necessarily spill over like you’d think, but watch for the areas next to the Aldi store and at the northwest corner of Pont Des Mouton Road and Louisiana Avenue. Both have been listed commercially, and Buc-ee’s could give them a nudge to land a buyer.
Downtown hotel: Lost in the excitement over this was that four local businessmen – not outside investors – are leading the charge on this massive project. Snags often happen on big projects like this, but let’s hope construction moves smoothly. We’re still waiting on an announcement on the restaurant inside.
Manufacturing jobs: First Solar could begin hiring, SafeSource Direct could be adding lots of jobs. Stuller is quietly growing to become the largest private employer not in health care in Lafayette Parish, and now the company is reportedly running out of room at its Verot School Road headquarters.
Southern Classic Chicken: This one is a repeat from last year, but this time it’s for real. Construction has begun at the site at 4603 Johnston St.
The brand is widely popular in central and north Louisiana not only for its food but for its efficiency. It also announced plans to open three locations in Baton Rouge.
The Ruby Slipper: The wait may not be long on this one. The New Orleans-based breakfast favorite could be open by mid-January at its space at 4701 Ambassador Caffery Parkway, Building D.
The business was close to opening this month but opted to wait until after Christmas, building owner Phil Devey said. The Ruby Slipper first opened in 2008 in a former corner store in their Mid-City neighborhood, which was then still rebuilding from Hurricane Katrina. It now has multiple locations in New Orleans and locations in Baton Rouge and the Florida and Alabama Gulf Coast region.
Others coming (or at least said they were):
Email Adam Daigle at adaigle@theadvocate.com.
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