Orange is getting a million-dollar restaurant along the Sabine River boardwalk. Tuesday night, the Orange City Council and Orange Economic Development Corporation approved granting up to $200,000 for infrastructure improvements for the business.
The restaurant will be the Boardwalk Grille owned and operated by Jake and Lacey Lemoine. Jake Lemoine’s family has long been restauranteurs in Orange. He said the Boardwalk Grille will specialize in wood-fired steaks and seafood. Of course, he added, there will also be fried shrimp and fish.
The restaurant will have wine, beer and cocktails that customers will be able to enjoy on a patio along the riverwalk. The patio will also allow people to hear and see performers at the Riverfront Pavilion.
The couple is opening a preliminary Boardwalk Grille in the old Southern Printers Building on Fifth Street in the next couple of weeks. Lemoine said that cafe will have a limited menu of items that will be featured at the full restaurant. Customers will be able to bring their own bottle for alcoholic beverages.
Lemoine said he hopes the new building is open by this time next year.
The new restaurant will be built on what is now a grassy area on the east side of Fifth Street at Division Avenue.
City Economic Development Director Jay Trahan told the council Lemoine is investing $850,000 in the project. The building will have 3,000 square feet inside and another 2,000 feet outside.
Lemoine plans to have 15 full-time employees with an average salary of $32,000, along with 20 to 25 part-time people working. Trahan said Lemoine hopes work with Lamar State College-Orange to get students who need part-time jobs. The college is nearby.
The economic development grant is coming from the special sales tax that voters approved in 2002. State law limits its use to economic development projects under certain restrictions.
Trahan said the restaurant is predicted to bring in $37,000 a year in sales taxes plus pay about $6,000 a year in property taxes.
The city owns the land and acquired it through a land swap with the Stark Foundation when the boardwalk was planned. The city will lease the property to Lemoine for 25 years at $100 a year. Lemoine will have an option after 10 years to buy the property.
Trahan said the deal is similar to ones other cities in the state have made. He thanked the Stark Foundation and President Tad McKee for working with the deal because the foundation held deed restrictions in the property swap.
The council unanimously approved the deal and District 3 Councilor Terrie Salter said it will be a good place for people going to the Lutcher Theater to patronize.
Ida Schossow, president of the Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce, also spoke in favor of the project and said the chamber supports development.
-Margaret Toal, KOGT-
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