Third Street Pub replaces Puncher’s downtown

A downtown sports bar is evolving. Mike Labat, co-owner of Puncher’s, says the bar will transform into a new concept called Third Street Pub and will be open by next week. Labat says the change came because he wants to keep up with the new dynamic and atmosphere of downtown. “In the coming years, we’re going to see some new residential developments,” Labat says. “The previous bar was successful and had its time. We’re trying to create an environment that’s going to have a more Louisiana, warmer feeling and more revenue stream than just 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.” The bar’s schedule will be Thursdays-Saturdays, 5 p.m.-2 a.m., to start. As residential development ratchets up along with football season, the bar will be open on other days. Labat says there’s even a chance they could add small sandwiches to the menu.—Matthew Sigur