Walk-On’s temporarily benching downtown ‘Halfcourt’ concept, expanding Happy’s

Instead of establishing a new scaled-down version of Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar in the Lee Overton Building on Third Street downtown, officials with Baton Rouge-based Walk-On’s Enterprises say they’ll use the roughly 2,500-square-foot space to expand the neighboring Happy’s Irish Pub that they also own. The company will now look for a larger space downtown for its new Walk-On’s Halfcourt concept, says President and CEO Scott Taylor. Walk-On’s announced in June its plans to open the new concept in the Overton Building, which it has leased for several years and is currently vacant. However, after discovering the space would only accommodate about 60 guests, Walk-On’s co-founder and co-owner Brandon Landry says the game plan changed. “We still believe Walk-On’s Halfcourt is a perfect fit for downtown, bringing a much-needed sports bar along with all the great eats and sights Walk-On’s is known for,” he says in a prepared statement released today. “We just need more space, at least enough to comfortably seat 100 guests at a time.” The Happy’s expansion, which is expected to be complete in November, will include the addition of pool tables, golf simulators, shuffleboard, darts and other bar games, Landry says. —Steve Sanoski