Beausoleil owner and chef Nathan Gresham and three partners, including the owners of Juban’s, have bought Christina’s, the iconic downtown diner that’s as well known for its hearty breakfast fare and plate lunch specials as for its well-connected cadre of regular patrons.
Gresham and his partners—Jeff Conaway, Michael Boudreaux and Kenny Juban–recently acquired the restaurant from Michael Bannister, who had been running the establishment since the death of his sister, Christina Bannister, in late January.
Christina Bannister founded the St. Charles street restaurant that bore her name more than 20 years ago and was a beloved personality in the downtown community.
The new owners, who jointly own Beausoleil, do not plan to make any significant changes to the restaurant or its menu, Conaway says.
“We’re going to fine tune it a little and update it,” he says. “But other than that it is going to stay pretty much the same.”
Conaway says Gresham, who has been recognized as one of the area’s best young chefs and was recently named one of Business Report’s Forty Under 40 honorees, has loved Christina’s since moving to Baton Rouge from his native Mississippi several years ago.
“Our plan from the beginning was always to have a diverse group of restaurants, so when this opportunity became available it just seemed like a great decision,” Conaway says. “And it’s one of Nathan’s absolute favorites.”
Conaway did not disclose the price of the acquisition, which includes the restaurant’s furniture, fixture and equipment, as well as the brand and recipes. The sale did not include the building at 320 St. Charles St. that houses Christina’s and is separately owned.
—Stephanie Riegel
