While I’ve reported recently the plethora of new restaurants opening, I’ve been chastised by readers to tell the whole story. Restaurants do also close in Lafayette; it’s a tough business. Otter’s Chicken is the latest closure in a string this fall that includes Sage, Serranos, Phoenician Grill and Collage.
Owner Talbott Ottinger says the demise of both the Lafayette and Breaux Bridge Otter’s locations is a layered story, but the oil and gas drilling moratorium in the Gulf, enforced because of the BP oil spill, caused the coup de grace. “Sales had dropped dramatically since the spill,” Ottinger says. “We stopped seeing guys coming in wearing jumpsuits with oil company logos. And even after the moratorium was lifted, it was still affecting us.”
Talbott, along with his brother Stuart and high school and college friends Steve Logan and Charlie Fitzgerald, started the first Otter’s in 2003 in Nashville, Tenn. The brothers are sons of Lafayette Consolidated Government attorney Pat Ottinger. That restaurant proved so popular the partners expanded to three locations in Tennessee before launching in the Ottingers' home town, Lafayette.
Planned in 2007, the economic free fall of 2008 greatly affected profits, says Talbott. Another factor was the limited menu, based solely on chicken, at a time when chicken plants were closing in Louisiana. “The price of chicken has been at a 10-year high for the last year,” Talbott says, “in a business that has a thin profit margin, really pennies.”
The Breaux Bridge location opened three days after the spill, in late April, and was never able to stabilize with the uncertainty of the local oil-based economy. The Lafayette restaurant closed Dec. 4.
Stuart Ottinger posted this notice on the Otter’s Facebook page:
Stuart Ottinger December 4 at 11:56am
It is with great sadness and regret that we have decided to close the Lafayette location at the close of business today, Saturday the 4th. Given the current state of the economy and the effects of the oil moratorium on the area we are faced with this tough decision.
If you are in Lafayette today, please stop by and have a meal or beer so we can get rid of our inventory and please encourage others to stop by as well.
We would like to personally thank each of our loyal customers for your support for the past two years. We hope that if you are ever in the Nashville or Atlanta area you will visit some of our other locations.
We will have $2 beers all day so come watch the SEC Championship with us.
Best Regards, The Otter’s Family
Evidently the national economy is not taking the same toll on other Otter’s locations. A new restaurant opened in Marietta, Ga., in July, and it’s going great guns, according to Talbott. Which is saying a lot when the competition is national brands, with deep corporate pockets for advertising. As for Lafayette, “it’s a tough foodie world,” he says. “Everybody thinks their mama’s fried chicken recipe is the best.”
Talbott says his location, on the corner of Kaliste Saloom and Pinhook, is attracting attention. “We’ve been approached by people with other concepts,” he says. “They’re looking at our building.”
Way to blame Obama for your boring chicken and poor choice of location. The Canes across the street seems to be doing fine! Also, next time research some marketing stradegys, was never sure if they served Otter burgers, and blue is the worst color for a restaurant logo, it's the most unappetizing color there is.
... written by phil , December 14, 2010 - 03:42 pm
The fact that you opened right across the street from another Chicken place really hurt.The chicken you serve wasnt the problem the fact that there are way too many restraunts in town and unless the place is unique or special most people wont go often enough to keep a place open.
... written by Southsider , December 14, 2010 - 04:09 pm
I think prices were rediculous also. Took my two sons for lunch there. Each of us got a chicken basket and a softdrink. $35 for chicken, toast, fries and a coke is a bit much. Never set foot back in the place.
... written by Lafayette , December 14, 2010 - 10:42 pm
Yea, for that price I would not have come back either.
I have news for you people, if you charge less money, more people will come. Look at golden wok. The food sucks, but it was always packed because it was cheap.
Better to charge less and get something for that food than charge more and get nothing and have to throw it away.
... written by Bayou , December 14, 2010 - 11:43 pm
Sounds like some ones looking for a bp claim.
Sales drooped dramatically because the "NEW" faded people gave you a chance/try and moved on if they didn't like it.
the only direct affect the oil spill had on Lafayette other than panic and over hype is that most of the workers that were wearing jumpsuits with oil company logos were at BP summer camp 2010 living on boats instead of eating your over prices inconveniently located chicken typical retardican blaming the economy because your business failed. lame your have no one to blame but your self. every one dwells in their own economy and only you can change it.
Leave We don't want you here!
... written by Please , December 15, 2010 - 12:50 am
The guys in the jump suits quit coming because they were across the street at Cane's.
... written by queenbee , December 15, 2010 - 09:56 am
gotta agree...wasn't that great. Don't you just love the how people blame the economy for EVERYTHING? If your food is good...we're there, if it is bad...we're not--simple as that. You don't need a marketing strategy...just have GOOD food.
... written by off lippi , December 15, 2010 - 11:13 am
food at otter's was terrible. chicken was obviously frozen and tasted like it. poor strategy when the chicken joint across the street boasts that theirs is fresh, never frozen. the oil spill had nothing to do with otter's demise; it failed solely because its food sucked.
... written by nolaf , December 15, 2010 - 11:40 am
I never understood why they located their store just across the street from Cane's. It could only go downhill from there, which it did.
... written by Dem Baw Cuttin Up , December 15, 2010 - 12:07 pm
I think that the quality of the food and the price of it was the demise of these establishments. People are a bit harsh in these comments today. Must be that cold weather.
... written by Eat Real Chicken , December 15, 2010 - 12:23 pm
Otters just straight up SUCKED! Overpriced and undesired product! I wonder what will go into that place. Maybe someone will be wise and not open a taco place next door.
... written by Jay Bienvenu 2010-12-15 , December 15, 2010 - 02:28 pm
The food was good; the prices were not; the choice of locations was laughable (they could have opened near the Johnston/Ambassador Caffery intersection, which is nowhere near a Raising Cane's). Blaming the oil moratorium is a cop-out; I knew they weren't going to succeed in this area the first time I ate there, which was well before the moratorium.
... written by Roscoe , December 15, 2010 - 05:21 pm
If you're going to build a nice restaurant and come into this town, you better bring it. Memo to the Walk On's boys, you better change your menu and improve your food drastically or your place will suffer the same fate. No one in this town will pay $10 for your burger!
... written by @rosce , December 16, 2010 - 12:29 am
I beg to differ. Buffalo wild wings is some of the WORST food I've ever had, yet it continues to flourish. I too, tried Otter's twice, was dispointed first time...gave it a second shot because the owners were "locals." Worse the second time.
Concering others mentioned in article: never made it to Sage, comment N/A. Serranno's had some of the BEST cheviche in Acadiana but service was hit or miss, cocktails were boring and food was average at best, atmosphere was cold. Wait staff seamed either overwhelmed or disineresyed in the customer, either way it was frustrating!!! Decor was progressive and funky but the size and layout left MUCH to be desired. . Pheonician Grill: similar to issues at Serranos Collage had some amazing dish concepts...egg plant nachos!!! Yummy!!! Decor was very good. However, over all feel of the place seemed confused. Breakfast was on the menu, but Collage was not open for breakfast. Hours of operation were forever shifting. 20%+ of the menu was amazing. The rest seemed to have been haphazardly thrown together. What was good was Great, everything else was below par. Location...downtown at Garfirld and jefferson intersection, admist 3 or 4 other average food options...top it off with music that was WAY too loud. Staff that seemed perpetually confused and under trained and never knowing if you were going to enter an eating establishment or what appeared to be a loose knit dance club...and clientele just got tired of trying, and gave up.
... written by mid town low downer , December 16, 2010 - 05:24 am
Never heard of the place and now they are closing. After reading the comments I can see why. But here's my take....you can serve yankees grilled buzzard on a stick and charge 35 dollars for it all day long....but don't come to Lafayette and try it. Let's see...next the Elephant Room????
... written by T , December 16, 2010 - 01:08 pm
Collage's location is getting gobbled up by another restaurant from the same owners I believe. I was good, but seemed Collage was an appropriate name. I really hope the Elephant Room will sustain, because my experience there was excellent, all the way around. Elephant Room is a great concept and something unique, was full when I was there., so lets hope its here to stay.
... written by T , December 16, 2010 - 01:11 pm
oh, and Seranno's, I gave that place a couple of chances, for one, that Location seems cursed. If only the dishes lived up to the descriptions on the menu! How can you have a place named after a pepper and everything is BLAND, BLAND.
... written by Happy Meal , December 16, 2010 - 02:56 pm
Queen Tut, normally your pieces are always up beat with little reflection on the difficulties. Food quality and prices aside, running a restaurant or any business is something everyone should do once. Most will never have the pleasure of running a business which is about painless as natural child birth.
... written by beheard , December 17, 2010 - 02:39 pm
With all sincerity Otters, your product was not very good and largely overpriced. It's amazing how Cane's is not feeling this effect, and why would you put an Otter's in Breaux Bridge. POOR PLANNING and MARKET RESARCH is to blame, not the drilling ban.
... written by Joe Politico , December 17, 2010 - 06:29 pm
People, People they are going out of business....no need to rub their noses in it. A business going down is not only a personal loss but a financial loss. At least they thought enough of Lafayette to give their business a shot in our city and while they were not successful they gave people jobs and paid taxes. So lighten up!
... written by beheard , December 20, 2010 - 05:31 pm
Joe Politico, I agree with your comment. But for their owners to blame the drilling ban for their failure is way off base. The owners would have been better off just stating that "things didn't work out due to the economy and competetive restaurant market in Lafayette." They opened themselves up for criticism.
... written by Reality Check , December 20, 2010 - 08:33 pm
beheard, do you have any clue about what the drilling ban has done to many people and businesses who rely on the thousands of oil workers in the area to survive? You should get out and talk to the hundreds of small businesses in the area who are consistently saying that this year has been the worst that they can remember, and that includes the 1980s. I can empathize with them since I am one myself. Your naivity and callous attempt to justify your comments is not what people want to hear during a RECESSION that was also hit with an oil moratorium. Have you ever opened your own business with your own money and put your blood, sweat and tears into something or do you just pick up your paycheck every 2 weeks and do not know or understand what the person writing the checks has to go through to sometimes make payroll? I applaud anyone who comes to Lafayette, invests money locally and creates jobs and tax revenues for our city. You and many of the others on this board have probably not made such a contribution to our economy so until you do and understand, it is hard to rationalize with you.
... written by SMG , December 23, 2010 - 10:18 am
Wow, I must be the only one who loved Otter's. My husband and I were very excited when they opened the Breaux Bridge location. Their prices were fairly competitive with Cane's, and I loved the chicken strips. They had a lot more flavor than Cane's. When Breaux Bridge closed, we were happy that we still had the Lafayette location. This blows, but at least they tried. I agree with the Buffalo Wild Wings comment. Their food is beyond terrible, but the place is always packed as are many of the other food joints in Lafayette that just suck.
... written by ray mitchell , December 29, 2010 - 08:12 am
Love your chicken - you will see me at the other locations - I travel the country in sales & think you folks do a nice job - I never stop in a restaurant because the food is cheap - I want good food when I travel & I am willing to pay a little more - no make that a lot more - Good Luck
... written by TJ Jr. , January 08, 2011 - 04:30 am
@Joe Politico
That's a two sided coin, because I used to work at Pinhook Otter's and they treat their employees like crap. The pay is lousy, they talk to people like they are special ed and the concept of an employee discount was obviously never heard of. I saw 4 people get fired in one week behind he-say-she-say drama with no evidence of offense AND they cut corners in the health/cleanliness department. I say good riddens.
... written by Ryan LeBlanc , January 27, 2011 - 12:59 pm
How is that Otter's blames the moratorium and rising chicken costs, yet completely ignores their location as one of the main reasons their Lafayette location failed? Take your crappy, soggy, overpriced chicken elsewhere. Cane's anyone? As far as leasing the building... lol, $31.00/sq. ft.? You're insane. Better luck elsewhere!
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