One of Uptown New Orleans’ most missed dining rooms is officially getting a second act, but not the one longtime regulars might expect.
The long shuttered Upperline building at 1413 Upperline Street has been purchased by Justin and Mia Devillier, the husband and wife team behind Magazine Street favorite La Petite Grocery. The couple plans to renovate the townhouse and reopen it as an all new restaurant, with restored private dining upstairs, rather than bringing back Upperline in name. Closed since 2020, the building has been an Uptown fixture for decades, and its sale ranks among the year’s biggest restaurant storylines.
As reported by NOLA.com, Justin and Mia bought the property from longtime owner JoAnn Clevenger and her husband, Alan Greenacre, and will partner on the project with Joel Dondis. Renovations are expected to begin in the weeks following the sale, with the team aiming for a late 2026 opening window, possibly in the fall. The Devilliers emphasized to the outlet that the address will host a new concept rather than a straight revival of Upperline.
Upperline’s legacy
Upperline opened in 1983 under Clevenger and grew into an Uptown institution, known for its blend of Southern and Creole dishes and a dining room lined with local art. The New York Times reported that Clevenger announced her retirement in late 2021 after the pandemic forced a temporary closure in March 2020, and that her family planned to sell the building. Among the dishes that cemented Upperline’s reputation was its fried green tomatoes with shrimp rémoulade, a plate that helped turn the combo into a regional standard.
The building and its setup
A commercial real estate listing notes the property is roughly 4,293 square feet, includes a liquor license and is already outfitted with dining rooms, bar space and kitchen equipment suitable for a restaurant. The listing also highlights a second floor that can be used for private events or expanded dining, making the footprint especially attractive to a new operator. That kind of continuity, an Uptown townhouse already set up for service, is a big reason restaurateurs have had their eyes on the address.
Who’s behind the buyers
Justin Devillier is a James Beard Award winning chef who, together with his wife Mia, has run La Petite Grocery since taking ownership in 2010, according to La Petite Grocery. The pair have opened and operated multiple local projects and bring a track record of regional acclaim and day to day restaurant experience to the Upperline site. Their deep ties to the city and familiarity with Uptown dining culture will likely shape how they walk the line between preservation and reinvention in the townhouse.
Timeline, the art collection and what to expect
Per NOLA.com, the Devilliers plan to restore the building’s second floor for private dining. Clevenger’s much discussed art collection was not part of the sale and remains in storage. The new ownership team says it intends to preserve the character of the historic townhouse while updating the kitchen and the dining flow for a contemporary concept. Renovations are expected to start soon, with a target opening in late 2026.
For Uptown regulars and New Orleans diners who remember Upperline’s warm, art filled rooms, the next two years of construction will be watched closely. The Devilliers’ move keeps the address in the hands of seasoned local restaurateurs who have already helped define the city’s modern dining scene. We will update as the owners release menus, a firmer timeline or reservation details.
