The paper covering the windows of Magpie Cafe’s highly-anticipated second location on the ground floor of the Commerce Building at 333 Laurel St. in downtown Baton Rouge finally came down this week.
The new cafe, which has been under wraps during its design phase, is nearly finished and scheduled for a soft opening on Sept. 28. Owners James and Lina Jacobs gave 225 Dine a sneak peek of Magpie’s new downtown location, which is a modern take on the cafe’s original Perkins Road shop’s relaxed and eclectic vibe.
“We’re ready to let in all that natural light. It’s what drew us to the space in the beginning,” Lina Jacobs tells 225 Dine.
Inside the building, high ceilings give way to exposed ducts and wiring. Lighting fixtures hang throughout the dining space. Original and unfinished terrazzo floors and concrete columns give the restaurant an industrial feel, while white Danish chairs, pillowed banquettes and blonde wood block tables soften everything up.
“The stunning showstopper is the long bar lining the back wall with its black-and-white geometric tile work and black marble counter. Plenty of shelving with gold accents behind the bar signal the Magpie team is ready to join the Third Street bar scene with evening hours and a craft cocktail menu,” 225 Dine reports.
The Jacobses added 25 new staff, from baristas to bartenders to kitchen staff, to accommodate the large new restaurant. Executive chef Tanner Purdum crafts the menu for Magpie’s monthly supper social with Lina Jacobs, and will oversee the kitchen.
“We have a young but very passionate and creative team in the kitchen, so I’m really proud of that,” Lina Jacobs says.
The downtown Magpie will offer counter food service from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. with breakfast and lunch items similar to the original location. Table service and a made-to-order dinner menu will begin at 4 p.m. and end at 10 p.m. The bar will serve shareable bar snacks to complement the cocktail menu for happy hour.
The new location also will feature all the varieties coffee Magpie customers have come to expect, plus it is equipped with a walk-up window facing Laurel Street where pedestrians can quickly get their java fix.
Read the full story and take a look at photographs showcasing the interior of the soon-to-open downtown Magpie. Make sure you get your fill of local culinary news each week by signing up for the free 225 Dine e-newsletter.
