Four days after Hurricane Gustav smashed into the Gulf Coast, many Baton Rouge businesses have opened their doors.Domino’s Pizza on Bob Petit Boulevard started satisfying customers’ pizza fix Tuesday with a menu limited to cheese and pepperoni on thin crust, said Christine Bueche, the store’s manager.Bueche said deliveries have been cut down as well because of dangerous fallen power lines and trees and very dark areas still without power.”I want to be able to take care of my community and not kill my team members at the same time,” she said.The drive-thru line at Raising Cane’s on Lee Drive has been bumper to bumper since it reopened Wednesday, said Raising Cane’s manager Travis Henriquez.”We’re about four times as busy as we normally are,” Henriquez said, adding that they have been working with other locations to keep enough food in stock.The Cane’s on Lee, the closest open location to campus, had a limited menu offering only the Box combo with no cole slaw, extra fries and a medium drink.Pluckers also opened Wednesday, said manager Drew Galloway. The normal menu stands, except for sandwiches and burgers because of delays in bread shipment. Like many others, Galloway said Pluckers will close at 9 p.m. Friday to get everyone home before the 10 p.m. curfew.Hello Sushi opened Wednesday and upgraded to the full menu Friday, said lead manager Stephanie LeBlanc.”We have a lot of students that are coming in,” LeBlanc said. “A lot of people that are real appreciative of us being able to be open.”LeBlanc said they will seat until 9 p.m. to cooperate with curfew.Mellow Mushroom opened Friday, said general manager Kyle Wilkinson, with a limited menu, which allows them to get food out faster to keep hungry diners from waiting at the door.Wilkinson said the menu is cut in half but still offers many options. Mellow Mushroom will be open until 9 p.m.Roly Poly on Nicholson Drive began opening 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday with a full menu.Nine Dragon on Burbank Drive, Akasha Market on Bob Petit Boulevard, Great Wall on College Drive and Fricken Chicken on Burbank Drive are all open for business.Those looking for dinner and a movie can go to Rave Motion Pictures on Hatteras Avenue. The theater opened all 16 screens Friday, with the last movie time at 5:15 p.m.Manager Corey Ikerd said the Mall of Louisiana location is ready to open but still waiting for electricity. Ikerd said the mall just got power back and the movie theater’s power is expected soon.Alberstons on College Drive has been open since Tuesday. Many other grocery stores are open now, including Winn-Dixie on Burbank Drive and CVS on Highland Road, which is open until 7 p.m. Neither store was available for comment.
Several area eateries open
September 4, 2008