Village patrons will have a new option for dining beginning this week with a restaurant promising an experience full of Southern flavor, Owner and General Manager Chuck Nicholas said.
After more than four months of renovation and preparation, The Creole Kid will open its doors to the public Wednesday.
The restaurant, at 1625 W. University Ave., will operate from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on opening day serving "delicious, affordable food and a fun, laid-back atmosphere," Nicholas said.
"It's something different for the area," Manager Lisa Wilmoth added.
The Creole Kid will offer a variety of traditional Southern Creole and Cajun entrees including jambalaya, red beans and rice and gumbo, along with a variety of sauces. A single meal will cost about $7.50 with a beverage, and patrons can make their way to the bar to enjoy a variety of beers, wines and mixed drinks.
"We plan on offering more drinks like margaritas in August after our grand opening," Nicholas said.
Nicholas also said the restaurant would employ a larger staff and expand its hours once school was back in session. The Creole Kid currently has five employees, not including management.
"We're really relying on word-of-mouth right now for people to come and try us out," Nicholas said. "People seem excited that the Village will have another choice, and we want to live up to those expectations."
Some locals have noticed renovations taking place in the building that once housed the Locker Room, but are not quite sure what the new addition is.
"I walk through the Village every day and just noticed how nice it is in there." Ball State University senior Michael McKay said. "It looks like an entertaining environment, and I've heard a lot about how good the samples are. [I'm] definitely looking forward to checking it out."
The Creole Kid's dynamic color-scheme of yellow and purple matches the New Orleans Mardi Gras look.
Music inspired by the Southern Louisiana style accompanies the spacious area.
Nicholas, originally from West Virginia, said he had worked in many restaurants with the same concept as The Creole Kid in Ohio, Kentucky and Indianapolis.
He originally wanted to create a restaurant in the Pacific Northwest but couldn't pass up the "space that just fell into our laps," he said.
The Creole Kid will be open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. after Wednesday's opening.
"Come and sample the food, taste the flavor and find something you like because we aim to please," Nicholas said. "We have a flavor for everyone."
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