Reimagined Bon Ton Café Seemingly Set to Reopen as Bon Ton Prime Rib

After extensive renovations and a fire during those renovations, the historic Bon Ton Café at 401 Magazine St. is preparing to reopen as Bon Ton Prime Rib . According to permit documents filed with the City of New Orleans , the reimagined restaurant will have a new bar, new kitchen equipment and new seating. While the name “Bon Ton Prime Rib” has yet to be formally announced, the South Carolina -based CentraArchy Restaurant Group that owns the restaurant has the name listed as one of its restaurants . The restaurant is currently hiring staff, according to recent job postings.

Although it moved twice and is apparently going through a rebrand, the Bon Ton Café is technically the third-oldest restaurant in New Orleans, behind Antoine’s and Tujague’s . It closed in March 2020 just before the COVID-19 pandemic triggered widespread restaurant shutdowns. The CentraArchy group, which also owns Chophouse New Orleans , bought the restaurant after it closed in 2020 and had been investing in major renovations to the building. A fire in September 2023 that was seemingly sparked by oily rags from renovation work caused a major setback, but it looks like the reopening is finally getting close to happening.