Buoyed by the success of their downtown spot since opening in 2014, the owners of Jolie Pearl Oyster Bar will be opening a second location, albeit a slimmed-down version, in the White Star Market in the Square 46 development on Government Street.
Jolie Pearl co-owner Eric Carnegie says it was an easy decision to join the gourmet food hall when White Star Market owner Clark Gaines approached them about four to six months ago.
“I believe this is going to work great,” Carnegie says.
The new location will be called Jolie @ The Market, and the menu will feature many Southern favorites like fried oyster and fried shrimp po-boys, sliders and, of course, charbroiled and raw oysters. Carnegie says the new location will probably feature about six to eight different options for toppings, like the Asian, Brie and Bacon, and Bleu Cheese.
Gaines says he had several options to choose from for an oyster bar concept in White Star Market—each vendor in the market will serve different delicacies with no overlap—and chose the Jolie Pearl team because he finds their North Boulevard location very appealing and loves how they understand the community involvement aspect of the business.
“They’ll rely on the infrastructure they’ve built while also creating a concept unique to our Market,” Gaines says in a statement. “I expect to see some of their popular oyster selections on the menu here, and some new creations as well, possibly something paying homage to Giamanco’s.”
Jolie Pearl co-owner Dana Brown says he and the other owners are excited to join the revitalization of Mid City.
“Jolie Pearl’s unique vibe is the perfect compliment to the energy Clark is bringing to Mid City with his White Star Market concept,” Brown says in a statement.
Jolie Pearl joins local celebrity chef Jay Ducote as the first two tenants announced for White Star Market, a gourmet food hall similar to St. Roch Market in New Orleans.
Gaines and his wife fell in love with the food hall concept while living up north for several years and wanted to bring that style back to Baton Rouge.
The market will feature about 10 food vendors and one bar in a 5,900-square-foot space.
The 25,000-square-foot Square 46 development will sit on the site of the old Giamanco’s restaurant and will contain commercial, office and residential space. Construction is expected to take about nine to 12 months.
BY: Ryan Broussard
Originally Posted by The Baton Rouge Business Report