Since Chelsea’s Cafe relocated from West State Street to the Perkins Road overpass in March, owner Dave Remmetter and his staff have seen a difference in business as well as cliental. Chelsea’s relocated because The Venue apartments were planning to expand into the University Shopping Center. Remmetter said he noticed a change in his customers’ age demographic after Chelsea’s moved from its original site in the LSU area. He said his previous demographic was people 20 to 30 years of age, but his current demographic is people 28 to 40 years of age. “It’s an older crowd,” Remmetter said. “We still have students, but not as many.” Brian Thibodeaux, a bartender, has worked at Chelsea’s for more than three years. He said the change in cliental is a positive step for the restaurant. While he said more Greeks go to the new Chelsea’s location, Thibodeaux said many “regulars” continue to attend concerts at the venue. “They still come out for the good shows,” he said. “They’re still loyal to us, but it’s just not their crowd.” Waitresses Morgan Brooks and Erin Couvillion attribute the shift in cliental to the relocation of the restaurant and its new atmosphere. Like Thibodeaux, Couvillion said she noticed an increase in Greek cliental and Garden District residents. Remmetter said the staff size will eventually triple because the new Chelsea’s is twice as big. He said business increased at least 50 percent because of the restaurant’s relocation. “Once school starts, it’ll be a lot more lucrative,” Brooks said. Parking spaces at the new location were initially insufficient, but Remmetter resolved the problem. He installed lights and spread gravel onto the low-lying area under the overpass. He also collaborated with Duvic’s, a neighboring bar, to increase parking spaces. Remmetter and his staff also posted signs informing customers where they should park. “I think most people got the message, but we still have to remind them where to park,” said Couvillian. Although the prices of food have increased, Remmetter said drink prices remain the same. Chelsea’s also features a few new additions to their menu, such as tuna steak and chicken florentine. Chelsea’s temporary hours are 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday, but Remmetter said the restaurant will open for lunch in August. Chelsea’s hosts Bingo Tuesdays at 11 p.m. and live music Thursday through Saturday at 10 p.m. This week, Chelsea’s will feature performances by The Derailers, Deadboy and the Elephantmen with The Way High Men, as well as Righteous Buddha. Next week, The Haunted Hearts, The Myrtles and K-flux with Epic will perform. “If people are curious to see how we’ve changed, they need to come over and check us out for themselves, and hopefully they’ll be impressed,” bartender Stephen Gremillion said.
_____Contact Angelle Barbazon at [email protected]