Texas Roadhouse Company Restaurant Taking Over Prime Lafayette Location

One of the more recognizable restaurant properties along Ambassador Caffery Parkway is preparing for another major change, and this time a concept from the company behind Texas Roadhouse is moving in.

According to Ben Powers with Developing Lafayette, Bubba’s 33 is planned for 3511 Ambassador Caffery Parkway, the longtime restaurant property most recently occupied by Tokyo Japan Steakhouse & Sushi.

The property has plenty of history for longtime Lafayette residents. Before Tokyo Japan, the building was home to Bennigan’s for years and has remained a prominent restaurant location along one of Lafayette’s busiest commercial corridors.

Now, plans call for the existing building to come down and an entirely new restaurant to take its place.

Bubba’s 33 Planned For Former Tokyo Japan Property

Developing Lafayette reports that a permit for a new Bubba’s 33 is currently moving through the Lafayette Consolidated Government permitting process.

Plans reportedly call for the former Tokyo Japan building to be demolished, clearing the property for construction of a new Bubba’s 33 featuring the chain’s signature restaurant design.

The location is especially interesting because Bubba’s 33 is part of the same restaurant company as Texas Roadhouse. If the project moves forward as planned, Bubba’s 33 would sit catacorner from the existing Texas Roadhouse on Ambassador Caffery.

That would give the company two different restaurant concepts within sight of one another at one of Lafayette’s busiest retail and dining areas.

What Is Bubba’s 33?

Bubba’s 33 was created by Texas Roadhouse founder Kent Taylor, with the first location opening in Fayetteville, North Carolina, in 2013. The concept has since expanded to more than 50 locations.

While the Texas Roadhouse name is closely associated with steaks, rolls and a traditional roadhouse atmosphere, Bubba’s 33 has a different identity.

The restaurant combines made-from-scratch American food with sports and entertainment. Its menu includes half-pound burgers, stone-baked pizzas, traditional and boneless wings, steaks, chicken, sandwiches, pasta, salads and appetizers.

One of its signature items is the Bubba’s Bacon Burger, which uses the restaurant’s Bacon Grind made with 33% bacon.

Typical Bubba’s 33 restaurants are around 6,700 square feet, seat roughly 237 guests and feature more than two dozen large HDTVs showing sports and music videos throughout the restaurant.

Tokyo Japan Looking For A New Lafayette Home

The news comes after Tokyo Japan announced that its lease at the Ambassador Caffery location had ended and would not be renewed.

That does not necessarily mean the longtime Lafayette restaurant is going away.

According to Developing Lafayette, Tokyo Japan is searching for a new location, with the former Tsubaki by Koi building at 3564 Ambassador Caffery Parkway rumored as a possibility.

Tsubaki recently relocated from that building to 803 W. Pinhook Road in Lafayette’s Oil Center. The former Tsubaki property is expected to undergo a major renovation, which has added to speculation that it could become Tokyo Japan's next home.

However, Tokyo Japan has not officially announced its new location, so that portion of the restaurant shuffle remains unconfirmed.

Get our free mobile app

A Familiar Lafayette Restaurant Property Changes Again

For many longtime Lafayette residents, the property at 3511 Ambassador Caffery may be remembered just as much for what was there before Tokyo Japan.

Bennigan’s operated at the location for years, making the building a familiar landmark along Ambassador Caffery before subsequent restaurant concepts took over the property.

The real estate itself remains valuable. It sits along a heavily traveled stretch of Ambassador Caffery surrounded by major retailers, restaurants and other businesses, with Texas Roadhouse located almost directly across the intersection.

Bubba’s 33 Already Hiring For Lafayette

There is another indication that the project is moving forward.

Developing Lafayette reports that Bubba’s 33 has already begun advertising management positions for its future Lafayette restaurant through the company's employment website and third-party job sites.

There are currently no announced demolition, construction or grand opening dates for the Lafayette location.

With permitting underway and hiring activity already appearing, however, Lafayette residents could begin seeing noticeable changes at the former Tokyo Japan property in the months ahead.