Le Cordon Rouge, a French bistro, is planning to open in early October at 334 Third St. downtown in the space previously occupied by Lokka Spa. Owner Rhonda Crosswhite says the bistro will be a larger version of the venue by the same name that she operated in 2012 and 2013 inside the now-defunct antique store The Courtyard at 4467 Arnold Lane.
Like the original version of Le Cordon Rouge, the new downtown bistro will have a bakery with French breads and pastries made fresh daily on site. Also like the original, the new restaurant will only be open for lunch during the week, at least initially.
“Once we get back to our regular lunch hours we may open for dinner on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays,” says Crosswhite, who was professionally trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. “Also, we’ll be in by 8 in the morning so we may be open for coffees and fresh pastries but for now, just lunch.”
Crosswhite has a silent business partner in the venture. Her partner in the kitchen will be chef Rich Wiley, a graduate of the Louisiana Culinary Institute who formerly worked at Carraba’s and Mellow Mushroom. Most of the classic French cuisine served at Le Cordon Rouge will be Crosswhite’s original creations, she says, though Wiley will execute them.
“We’re exactly on the same page,” she says. “We both have the same vision for what we want this to be.”
Crosswhite’s bistro in The Courtyard was her first foray into the restaurant business, though she had catered and taught cooking classes for years, and it attracted a small but dedicated following of foodies. She closed the bistro in early 2014 because she outgrew the space and has been looking for a larger space ever since.
The new restaurant is around 2,000 square feet and will be able to accommodate 30 tables inside and on the patio.
The building at 334 Third St. is owned by retired businessman Kerry Denny, who renovated it in 2013 and has a private residence on the second floor. It is in the heart of the booming Third Street entertainment corridor and is a welcome addition to the neighborhood, says Downtown Development District Executive Director Davis Rhorer.
“It’s a great location, and that building is a great mixed-use success story,” Rhorer says. “There is no other French bistro downtown so we are happy to have them.”
—Stephanie Riegel
