For only the third time since Tujague's opened in 1856, the restaurant will move to a new location, but will still be found on familiar old Decatur Street.
The move will take place by August. Tujague's announced they will relocate from Decatur and Madison down to Decatur and St. Louis, into the historic three story building once occupied by Bubba Gump Shrimp, Co.
Tujague's owner Mark Latter says the new space will more than double the size of the current location, include a small courtyard, a much larger kitchen and more private dining rooms.
However, The Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate reports one familiar fixture from Tujague's will not be making the move: The antique bar will remain with the former restaurant. Latter says the old back bar is made of plaster and would likely not survive the move. He'll be building a new bar at 429 Decatur.
By the way, Tujague's is named for Guillaume Tujague, described as a French immigrant who ran a butcher stand in the French Market. He opened the restaurant at 811 Decatur right across from the market.
Guillaume Tujague died in 1912 and two years later moved to its current location at 823 Decatur, when it moved into the former Begue's Exchange, one time a famous restaurant in its own.
Following Guillaume Tujague's death, operation of the restaurant was taken over by Philip Guichet and the Castet brothers. In 1982 the Latter family purchased Tujages from the Guichets.
