When former Cajun Catfish House owners John and Joan Moore announced last September they were closing the restaurant after almost 13 years of business, hundreds of locals were surprised and saddened by the news.
Less than a year later, former employee Arianna Woods is bringing the popular restaurant back to life, this time in Jefferson City.
Previously located in St. Martins, Cajun Catfish House will reopen at 829 Eastland Drive, which previously housed Paulie B's before it closed in summer 2019.
Woods said she wanted to offer the same vibrant environment she worked in.
"I don't ever come to work upset," she said. "I think that's the reason why I really wanted to own the business. I never once went there and thought, 'Ugh, I have to go to work today.' I always got out of bed with a smile on my face."
Woods hopes to reopen Cajun Catfish House on Aug. 1.
The business will be open 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
The restaurant will have the same recipes locals love, Woods said, noting she will add a few new items, including pastas, fried potato salad, buffalo chicken dip, and a macaroni and cheese burger.
"The food is great, and I don't think we need to change it," she said. "I feel like if we changed just one thing, it would be chaos."
The familiar food won't be the only thing returning customers will recognize. All the wall decorations came from the original location.
Customers will most likely notice the abundance of seating. The Eastland location is easily twice the size of the St. Martins location, Woods said.
While Woods enjoyed working in St. Martins, she wanted to be more accessible to Jefferson City customers. The new location could also attract more customers since it is near U.S. 50.
"They kind of forgot about us in St. Martins sometimes because it's out of the way," Woods said. "I think if people can see it near places that they go, we'll have better business and reach more people, make them happy, make their bellies happy."
In her last year at State Technical College of Missouri, Woods said she is excited to open her first business and see her customers again.
"It's unbelievable," she said. "It's honestly such a crazy feeling knowing that this is happening."
Know of any business happenings around Jefferson City? Let us know at [email protected].