Chef Nate is closing Louisiana Flair
Sad news from the Louisiana Flair Facebook page today: Chef Nate is closing up shop due to a lack of money.
Read his touching letter to his customers after the jump.
To you my customers this is Chef Nate; first of all I would like to inform you that I am closing my restaurant, it has been a pleasure and a privilege serving you. The past 4 and a half years have been the most fun I have had in my entire life You have brought me so much joy, and how could I close without telling how I feel? When I moved to Richmond I hated this town, then I opened Louisiana Flair and I met you. You opened up your heart and I couldn’t find a way to hate it; you let me into your comfort zone, you allowed me to introduce you to new things and also give you my heart.
The reason I am closing this restaurant is I have no more money; times are tight and the neighboring businesses have laid off so many of my regular customers that I no longer see enough folks to meet the bills. I have put everything I have into making you happy and that has made me happy.
Have you ever fallen in love? I did again when I met you. So, to you my friends all over Virginia, this country and over the other countries of this world that I have met; thank you for a wonderful experience. I will be closing around the end of July and it will hurt me more than you can imagine. Thank you for all of your gifts and your support, how many times can I say thank you 10,000,000,000 that’s not enough. May God bless you and may God keep you until we meet again. I will be back; God is taking me to another level where I can serve you better and still be the only authentic Cajun restaurant in the state of Virginia also I Love You and there is nothing that you can do about it.
Thank you,
Chef Nate
I love this restaurant and I’ve taken great joy in introducing friends and co-workers to Nate’s cooking. I know business is business and that hard times happen, but this is a true loss. I wish my wallet and waistline could have handled me coming into Nate’s house more often! I suspect that Louisiana Flair’s going to have a very busy month, hopefully setting up a nest egg for Nate’s next establishment.
What a shame! There are many, many of Chef Nate’s fans in town that will be anxiously awaiting news of where he lands.
AAAaaaaaaaaaaWWWWWWWwwwwwwwwwwEEEEeeeeeeeeeee!
NOOOOOOO!!!! I wish I could make this NOT HAPPEN! Nate we neeeeeed you!!!!!
1. Major Bumskies
2. This is a much better restaurant-closing letter than the one from the Boom Boom Burgers guy. Just sayin.
[...] doesn’t make a whole lotta gumbo, so I’ll be heading over to Louisiana Flair, because I heard they’re going out of business soon. [...]
Anyone have any idea when it’s closing for good? I’d love to figure out a way to check it out before it’s gone. I’d never heard of the place until today, but then again, I don’t work in the city and it’s not open when I’m not at work.
How could anyone hate Richmond? ever?
August 1st will be the last day. Hours are from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm weekdays and 11:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday. Here’s a copy of their menu
Louisiana Flair Online Menu
The Po’ Boys are wonderful.
I am so sad to see your restaurant close. Being from louisiana myself, I felt at home with your cooking. Your Gumbo was the best in town. You will definitely be missed.
Chef Nate, you should offer beignets everyday of the week until you close your restaurant!!
Sad news
So the Media General cuts are killing Louisiana Flair too? Appalling. The Red Door must be next. I appreciate LF and the good two years of food I got from them when I worked downtown. Hate to see any positive people lose, hope he recovers quickly.
Nate’s already planning the next move and the move after that. I hate to see him go too, for lots of reasons.
[...] was pretty sure something like this was coming. There has been a huge reaction to the news that Louisiana Flair Cajun Restaurant would close at the end of this month. As a matter of fact, ever since the announcement was made the tables [...]
Has your lease run out? Is rent renegotiation the reason for closing LOUISIANA FLAIR? Things are beginning to pick up in that area, Nate: Now that M&R is renting units instead of only selling them, occupany is rising. The John Marshall, a block away, is pre-leasing its 238 units; the upscale restaurant to be called PASTURE is close to opening just down Grace near 5th Street. SUBWAY and DA VINCI PIZZA recently opened around the corner of 4th and Broad. Maybe you ought to get a liquor license, Nate, and offer aperitifs as well as your great cajun specialities. Richmond doesn’t want to lose LOUISIANA FLAIR.