More restaurants seats in EBR could curb business

With the looming recession, most people are eating out less (see the Business Report cover story here). Yet, each week it seems a new restaurant opens its doors in East Baton Rouge, whose population isn’t increasing any time soon.

Louis DeAngelo Jr. estimates 4,500 new restaurant seats the city, which is hurting local restaurateurs who are committed quality ingredients, even as commodity prices are rising. “This economic drama is not helping,” he says. “Between that, the competition and what’s going on in Washington, it definitely has people thinking what is value for their money, value for their experience.”

Jim Urdiales, owner of Mestizo and the new La Mestiza in Prairieville, believes the restaurant market here is becoming over-saturated. “There’s a piece of the pie that people aren’t understanding. With all the steakhouses and new restaurants, there’s no way we can split all the high-end diners, ” he says.

East Baton Rouge’s population is not growing, in contrast to its neighbors Ascension and Livingston. Suburbanites commuting to the city for a job tend to flee after clocking out, keeping their dining business closer to home. Urdiales forecasts his new Prairieville location outpacing his Acadian Thruway spot in just a few months.

“I’m thinking long term, I’m going to have to advertise just to keep my piece of the pie. And EBR’s not growing. Funny thing.

The Louisiana Restaurant Association, however, reports no rise in its Baton Rouge membership. About 90% of the restaurants here are LRA members; chains tend not to join.