Ste. Marie Team Reopening Meauxbar, Closing Ste. Marie

File this one under shocking switcheroo. Todd A. Price reports that CBD hot spot Ste. Marie will shutter for good during the second weekend of Jazz Fest— Sunday, May 4, to be exact— while owner Robert LeBlanc and company pack up shop and move onto Rampart, where they'll reopen recently-shuttered Meauxbar Bistro the last week in May. LeBlanc just purchased Meauxbar (the building and name) from the brothers Touzet, who are investors, partners in Patois, and also happen to be the guys who bought Meauxbar from James Conte and chef Matthew Guidry.

Chef Kristen Essig will be on board at Meauxbar, doing a menu similar to Ste. Marie— a menu that basically resurrected the restaurant, has wowed critics, and landed Essig a runner-up spot for Eater Chef of The Year 2013. She'll also offer a few more French bistro items. Also on board are bar manager Chris Arenas and GM Natalie Secco.

While all of this sounds crazier than a cop doing the cupid shuffle on the street, Leblanc says he was concerned about keeping Ste. Marie going while rebuilding Meauxbar. He also notes that the Poydras corridor is becoming a little too commercial for his taste. Leblanc is a partner in #kalegate locale/gastropub fave Sylvain, so expect a very stylish revamp of Meauxbar, one that also aims to "honor that tradition and honor the clientele" that the restaurant created over ten years of business.

· Meauxbar to be reopened by team from Ste. Marie, which will close in May [NOLA.com]
· All Switcheroos [-ENOLA-]