Drago's (finally) secures Lafayette location

Megan Wyatt | The Daily Advertiser

Show Caption Hide Caption New restaurant taking over Mellow Mushroom A New Orleans oyster bar is opening a Lafayette location in the former Mellow Mushroom building at 3151 Johnston St.

It's been more than two years in the making — and more than one business deal falling through — but Drago's Seafood Restaurant has landed a Lafayette location.

The popular New Orleans oyster bar is set to open its fourth location in mid-August at 3151 Johnston St. where Mellow Mushroom is located. The pizza restaurant is set to close Sunday.

"I'm ready to bring the single best bite of food in New Orleans and make it the single best bite of food in Lafayette," says Tommy Cvitanovich, majority owner of Drago's.

Many locals have considered Cvitanovich's chosen location to be cursed because of the high turnover rate. Mellow Mushroom management even held an exorcism of the building before opening a restaurant in the space in 2014.

Before Mellow Mushroom opened, Tex-Mex restaurant Bako's occupied the space from 2011 to 2012 and Serranos Salsa Co. operated in the building from 2007 to 2010.

The location has also been home to Toucan's, Booty's and other businesses through the years.

Background: Mellow Mushroom, 3 other restaurants call it quits

But even though Cvitanovich considers himself to be superstitious and sentimental, he says he isn't concerned about opening a restaurant in a "cursed" building.

"That doesn't concern me at all," Cvitanovich says. "As long as I do my job, I don't worry about history."

Cvitanovich first announced he was in search of a Lafayette location for his family's seafood business in January 2015.

A business deal between Drago's and Parc Lafayette fell through that summer, and Cvitanovich didn't open an Acadiana location by the end of 2015 as originally planned.

Background: Parc Lafayette prepared to close deal with Drago's

Cvitanovich has looked at other locations, including the former Copeland's location at 3920 Ambassador Caffery Parkway, but those deals ultimately fell through as well.

"It has to be a good deal for both sides," Cvitanovich says. "If it's not a good deal for both sides, it's not a good deal for either of us."

Related: Copeland's returns to Lafayette with express concept

Cvitanovich signed a 20-year lease for the Mellow Mushroom location Thursday, and he expects to begin renovations June 12.

The building is about 8,000 square feet and will include seating for about 300 people. Cvitanovich plans to keep the existing outdoor bar patio.

Although best known for its charbroiled oysters, Drago's also offers a large menu with options such as lobster, seared duck and po'boys.

The restaurant is expected to be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily beginning in mid-August.

Drago's opened its first location in 1969 in Metairie.

The restaurant didn't open a second location until about 10 years ago when it opened inside of the Hilton New Orleans Riverside. Drago's opened a third location two years ago inside of a Hilton in Jackson, Mississippi.

The Lafayette location will be completely family owned like the original Metairie location. Partners are involved in the Hilton locations in Jackson and New Orleans.

Cvitanovich expects to employ about 100 people at the Lafayette location.

Mellow Mushroom employees will be given top priority for open positions, Cvitanovich says.

"Unless someone has something critical that comes up in the background search, all of them will be hired," he says. "I don't call our employees a team. We don't play ball together. I call them a family. We really have a special bond."

Even with the restaurant's expansion and his father's death earlier this year, Cvitanovich says the restaurant remains a family operation.

"I'm 58 years old. I run three — getting ready to be four — restaurants. I have 450 employees working under the Drago's name. I'm the majority owner. And yet, my mom still signs my checks," Cvitanovich says.

The Lafayette location will pay special tribute to Cvitanovich's father, Drago, through photos and words on the restaurant's walls.

Cvitanovich says his father truly represented the American dream as a successful businessman who moved to New Orleans as a poor immigrant from Croatia.

Even though this will be the first time a Drago's restaurant has opened without his physical presence, Cvitanovich says his dad didn't fully comprehend his restaurant's impact because he suffered from dementia and Alzheimer's during the final decade of his life.

"He is at my side and he will be part of the restaurant," Cvitanovich says. "That is my biggest regret is that my dad didn't understand what his name meant and what his business meant to people."

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