Uncle Earl’s expands into space fronting Perkins Road

One of Baton Rouge’s iconic watering holes is expanding and taking over its former neighbor’s space. Uncle Earl’s, a bar located in Acadian-Perkins Plaza, is currently undergoing renovations and expanding into the space formerly occupied by Golden Needle Tailor Shop.

Golden Needle relocated Monday to a spot right next to Burgersmith in the same shopping center. Jon Claitor, the landlord for the plaza, says work has already started on the expansion, with the neighboring walls being torn down as Uncle Earl’s takes over the now-vacant 700-square-foot space.

“[Uncle Earl’s] has had so [many customers dining in] lately that they’ve needed the room,” Claitor says. “The expansion will give the bar front-door access to Perkins Road and more visibility. That visibility is going to make a huge difference for them.”

The bar is currently serving hamburgers, barbecue, boudin, salads and sandwiches. The original Uncle Earl’s started in the late ’70s, according to Claitor, at the current location of The Bulldog in the Southdowns Shopping Center. It closed around 1990.

The bar re-opened at its current location under new ownership in 2004. Claitor says he hopes the renovations will be done by the first of November, allowing for a grand opening event for the LSU-Texas A&M game Saturday, Nov. 23. The bar will remain open during the renovation. —Matthew Sigur