Duluth’s dining choices are expanding with the new Boudreaux’s Café Acadiana opening Thursday (Feb. 16). 

Paul Many of Boudreaux's Cajun Seafood Market in Duluth is helping long-time friend Mark Beidel open the Creole-centered restaurant.

Café Acadiana is taking over vacant restaurant space in the Duluth Station shopping center at Buford Highway and Old Peachtree Road. Many said he is excited to see his south Louisiana heritage advance on such a large scale.

“I’m the defender of my culture, promoter of the legacy my family left to me,” Many said. “My grandmother is who the business is named after.”

In addition to the all-you-can-eat selections and other popular menu options for lunch and dinner, a beignet and French press coffee service is planned for early morning visitors. Catering will also be available.

The dining areas are arranged to play host to live music and sports viewing. Café Acadiana plans to welcome regular gatherings of New Orleans Saints and LSU fans, among other devoted followers.

And the market's favorites are also migrating as its General Manager and Chef Codie Williams takes over the cooking duties in the new café.

“I’m going to have more staff, and I’ll be expanding the menu a good bit,” Williams said. “I’m still going to be pumping out po boys like crazy.”  

Along with the café’s opening, the seafood market’s downtown dining room has closed. Many said Boudreaux’s Cajun Seafood Market in Historic Downtown Duluth will expand its hours and selections.

The native from the Bayou Country has developed a reputation for delivering authentic seafood, Cajun specialties, seasonings, and condiments from his home state. For nearly nine years, Many has personally traveled to deep South fishing locations to bring back fresh seafood finds.

He made his first run for 50 pounds of shrimp on Sept. 17, 2000. As interest grew in what he had to offer, Many quickly found his real market was outside of his CPA practice.

“I was a Cajun out of place in Atlanta,” he said. “I would walk into a place and be let down. They would claim to be the authentic thing, and come to find out it would be someone who wasn’t from Louisiana who was running it. A lot of the products were not authentic.”

Many said the changes underway in the Duluth dining scene should be an encouragement to patrons and fellow businesses alike.

“The fact there is actually a company starting a new business and creating up to 20 jobs is great news in today’s economy,” he said. The political whirlwinds we find ourselves operating in make it tough to start an operation like this, and it’s been tough. We’ve got a horse, now we’ve got to put it in the race.”

Cafe Acadiana is located at 2750 Buford Hwy, Suite 800. Hours are 11 a.m.-9 p.m, Tuesday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday & Saturday; and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday. A Cajun lunch buffet is offered from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday-Friday. For more information, call 770-814-8388.