Cavan gets a new lease on life

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Cavan was one of a slew of restaurants to close for good last fall after Hurricane Ida. Now, the historic building it once called home has a new owner, a chef with New Orleans roots now developing a new restaurant back in his hometown.

Chris Dupont recently bought the property at 3607 Magazine St. He is a chef who built his career over the last 30 years in Birmingham, Alabama. His restaurant Café Dupont was a pioneer in the modern farm-to-table style for Birmingham.

“I wanted to have my last restaurant in the place where I came from,” Dupont said. “I saw this as a logical return for myself.”

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He hopes to open his new restaurant by late summer, pending renovations to the former Cavan.

But Dupont said he'll start with the same cornerstone approach he’s used through his career - connecting with local food producers to build menus reflecting place and season.

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Dupont grew up in Gretna and by high school was working in local restaurants. That included big names of the era, most of which have long since closed, like Christian’s in Mid-City (now home to Vessel), the Bistro at the Maison de Ville when Susan Spicer was its chef, and Tour d'Eiffel, the once-landmark restaurant on St. Charles Avenue from chef Daniel Bonnot. His first sous chef job was at Flagons on Magazine Street (now home to Basin Seafood & Spirits).

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