Moving into Mid City: Architect and developer Joshua Hoffpauir has announced plans for a 25,000-square-foot mixed-use development at 4646 Government St., which was once the site of Giamanco’s restaurant but has been cleared and vacant for years. Hoffpauir says the development, called Square 46, will contain a mix of residential, retail and restaurants, adding that plans also call for a green alley space suitable to host events such as farmers markets and community events. “This is the type of development I have always wanted to be a part of, a sustainable community that will encourage more people to consider the Government Street area as a place to shop and call home,” says Hoffpauir. You can see a rendering of the development at the Square 46 website.
Opening soon: BREC is hosting a ribbon-cutting and grand opening of its Independence Park Café on Saturday in partnership with the East Baton Rouge Parish LIbrary’s Main Library on Goodwood Boulevard. BREC’s Independence Park Café is a multipurpose facility located next to the Main Library that includes a café, a botanic garden book collection and areas for educational programming. It will be used by BREC’s Conservation Department as the home base for nature-based summer camps and educational events. Saturday’s ribbon-cutting will coincide with the launch of BREC and the Main Library’s fall festival celebration. Activities take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the café and library, 7711 Goodwood Blvd. BREC has complete details.
Out of the oven: Grimaldi’s Pizzeria is now open in the Mall of Louisiana. It’s the first location in both Baton Rouge and the state for the Scottsdale, Arizona-based chain, which features hand-tossed, coal-fired brick oven pizzas and calzones. The new location features seating for over 150 guests, local craft beers, an expansive wine list and a private space for special events. “We scour the country for the perfect sites but also for outstanding communities. We understand that it’s the families and the business owners that make our best fans and I think Baton Rouge is just such a community,” says Grimaldi’s CEO Joe Ciolli in a prepared statement.
