Bar to replace Louie’s Cafe on State Street

A new bar serving food is planned for the space at 209 W. State St., which is currently home to Louie’s Café but will be vacated later this fall when the iconic Baton Rouge diner moves down the street to a larger space. Local bar owner Shane Courrege, who is a part-owner of both Duvic’s and Spanish Moon, is teaming up with Luis Macedo, currently the head chef at Pinetta’s European Restaurant, to open the new concept bar and eatery in early 2015. “It’s a small space, so it will be quiet, relaxed and intimately lit,” says Courrege, who signed a lease for the 2,000-square-foot space last week with building owner Jimmy Wetherford. “There really isn’t anything like it around here.” Courrege and Macedo don’t have a name yet for the establishment, which will have a menu featuring gourmet grilled sandwiches, salads and limited entrees. The new bar is the latest of several changes planned for the popular North Gates area, just outside the LSU campus. As previously reported, Highland Coffees is closing in late December because its lease was not renewed. A new restaurant is planned for that space. Louie’s, meanwhile, will be moving down the street in late October to the former Wendy’s space on Lake Street, and later this year national chain Newk’s Eatery will open a restaurant adjacent to Louie’s in the long-vacant building that formerly housed Gatti’s Pizza. —Stephanie Riegel