A grand opening is set for today for a new combination restaurant concept featuring a Schlotzsky’s and Cinnabon Café in the same space at 5565 Essen Lane. The restaurant is in a 3,200-square-foot space previously occupied by a PJ’s Coffee and Verizon Wireless, both of which closed last year.
Houston-based brothers Avi and Vibhore Jain own the local Schlotzsky’s franchise. They also own three others, including one in Gonzales and two in Houston. This is their first Baton Rouge location, and based on sales at the Gonzales location, which opened last fall, Vibhore Jain believes his new restaurant will do well.
The Essen Lane deli isn’t Schlotzsky’s first venture into the local market. Two prior Schlotzsky’s locations—one on Jefferson Highway, the other on South Sherwood Forest Boulevard—both have closed over the past three years.
Jain says the deli chain’s co-branding deal with Cinnabon is proving popular around the region and should help drive business to the new cafe. He also hopes the pending widening of Essen Lane will ease traffic congestion in the area, which in turn would make the cafe a more attractive destination.
—Stephanie Riegel
