The forthcoming restaurant, bar, and event space from the operators of The Francis aims to become Zachary’s premiere dining destination.
Residents of Zachary’s South Plains area will soon welcome a newcomer to the neighborhood with South Plains Food Co., a dining destination slated to open late 2022.
The 14,000-square-foot facility will encompass a large restaurant and connected bar, private dining space, and room for live entertainment. The vibrant eatery will feature a contemporary menu focusing on Louisiana-style fare, including barbecue, steaks, and seafood, elevated by the use of locally-sourced foods and chef-curated recipes.
South Plains Food Co. is the brainchild of Brandon Brown, Joel Frosch, and Greg Martinez, local entrepreneurs and restaurateurs who also operate The Francis Southern Table & Bar in St. Francisville (Brown and Martinez are both co-owners of The Francis, while Frosch serves as its general manager). Thanks to their network of local connections and lengthy experience in launching other successful restaurant concepts, their vision for South Plains is both ambitious and comprehensive.
“The aim of South Plains Food Co. is to become a destination in itself,” Frosch says. “We want to provide a dining experience unlike anything in or around Zachary, bringing high-end quality for an affordable price in a fun, comfortable atmosphere. So whether you come after the ball game or to celebrate your birthday, it’s the place to be.”
The South Plains Food Co. interior is designed to deliver a rustic yet refined atmosphere, with ample wood and exposed brick throughout, and shaded by century-old live oak trees outside. One of the defining characteristics of South Plains will be its sheer size, making it capable of accommodating large parties and celebrations inside and out. The restaurant will offer indoor seating for 300 people, along with year-round outdoor dining on 5,000 square feet of decking. The four-acre site is currently being developed along Mount Pleasant Road, near the intersection with Old Scenic Highway and the Zachary Youth Park Complex.
Expansion plans are already in the works to expand South Plains Food Co. to serve as a wedding and event venue, Frosch says. The owners have acquired 13 adjacent acres to develop in the near future, so that eventually, part or all of South Plains Food Co. will be able to accommodate events including rehearsal dinners, weddings, and corporate gatherings. Plans call for the grounds to be extensively developed with additions like fire pits, stages for live bands, water fountains, and hardscape to complement the destination’s one-of-a-kind atmosphere. By year three, the owners aim to have established a growing catering and event space business, which they expect to provide a steady stream of revenue within a largely untapped market.
South Plains also intends to offer catering services to local companies including nearby industrial plants and oil refineries, as well as a large selection of deli items for grab-and-go pickup—additions that further position the business to play a pivotal role in the Zachary community. The take-out section will carry specialty items such as cracklins, prime rib, and boudin.
Aside from the sales tax revenues that it will generate, the opening of South Plains Food Co. will create more than ninety jobs in the first year alone. “Thanks to South Plains’ prime location we’re hoping to attract families and teams traveling for sports tournaments, so we can encourage visitors to spend their dollars in Zachary, and boost the local economy,” noted Frosch.
"BSF is proud to partner with the owners of South Plains Food Co. to bring this restaurant to our good friends and neighbors in the Zachary community,” says Bank of St. Francisville Vice President of Commercial Lending Melvin Harvey, Jr., who assisted Brown, Frosch, and Martinez with the project loan.
“We really want this to be a gathering space for the community,” Frosch says. “We couldn’t be more thrilled about moving into the Zachary market, and working with our community bank here in St. Francisville—just down the street from The Francis, our first endeavor—really shows the importance of that relationship, because when you work together, you grow together, and the whole community benefits.”
To learn more about how Bank of St. Francisville can help establish, grow, or expand your business, call 225-635-6397 or click here to schedule an appointment. To get more local stories like these in your inbox, sign up for our monthly e-newsletter here.
