The Original Patti at 505 W. Pont des Mouton Road in Lafayette closed permanently this weekend after a kitchen hood vent failure left the restaurant unable to prepare food, the restaurant said in a social media statement.
Immediate shutdown follows equipment failure
A Saturday post from the restaurant said the hood vent system had stopped working and that the Pont des Mouton location would be “closed until further notice.” Less than 24 hours later, the business announced the closure would be permanent.
“Unfortunately, we will be shutting our doors effective immediately. To all our customers who have become family and supported our business, thank you, we appreciate you!”
The Pont des Mouton restaurant occupied space in the Couret Farms development in a building that previously housed Romacelli. Restaurant operators did not announce plans to reopen the site or provide details about potential repairs, lease status or staff impacts in the announcement.
Roots in Lafayette’s game-day culture
The Original Patti name ties back to a long-running presence near the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Ground Pat’i first opened on Johnston Street in 1971 and became a well-known pregame and postgame stop for crowds attending events at Cajun Field.
In 2021, owners of Pizzaville USA, John Mouisset and Kim Broussard, purchased the Johnston Street restaurant and rebranded it as The Original Patti, retaining the menu familiar to patrons. That purchase also included a second location in the former Romacelli space on Pont des Mouton, which is the location that closed this weekend.
Two brands, different ownership and outcomes
The restaurant landscape around the Patti name has seen several shifts in recent years. The Ground Pat’i name remained attached to the Kaliste Saloom Road location under separate ownership. That Kaliste Saloom lease expired at the end of 2023 and the Ground Pat’i there closed; owner Rick Cambre said at the time he planned to reopen at a new site.
After the 2021 split in ownership and names, the two operations followed different paths. The Johnston Street location that traces its history to 1971 continues to operate under The Original Patti brand, while the Pont des Mouton outpost that opened under the same owners has now closed.
- 505 W. Pont des Mouton Road: The Original Patti — Permanently closed after hood vent failure.
- Johnston Street (near UL Lafayette): The Original Patti — Remains open under owners who bought it in 2021.
- Kaliste Saloom Road: Ground Pat’i — Closed after lease expiration in 2023; different ownership.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1971 | Original Ground Pat’i opened on Johnston Street near UL Lafayette |
| 2021 | Johnston Street location bought by Pizzaville USA owners and rebranded The Original Patti; Pont des Mouton location opened |
| End of 2023 | Ground Pat’i Kaliste Saloom lease expired; location closed |
| August 2026 | Pont des Mouton Original Patti closed permanently after hood vent failure |
For Lafayette residents, the closure removes one of the newer locations under the Original Patti banner while preserving the long-standing Johnston Street restaurant, which continues to operate and serve the community. The Pont des Mouton building’s future use or tenants are currently unknown.
Local dining observers note that such closures can have ripple effects on nearby developments, particularly in mixed-use projects like Couret Farms where restaurants frequently anchor foot traffic. The loss also reduces options for patrons who favored the Pont des Mouton location for its proximity to neighborhoods on the city’s west side.
The Original Patti’s social media announcement thanked customers and described them as family but did not provide other specifics on employee transitions or asset disposition. Customers seeking the Original Patti menu and atmosphere can still patronize the Johnston Street location, which remains open under the same name retained from the 2021 sale.
