Gris-Gris, the Magazine Street favorite led by chef Eric Cook, is getting ready for its last dance. The restaurant has announced it will close at the end of July and is urging regulars to come help send it off in style. After an eight-year run, the news lands hard for neighbors who have watched a steady churn of businesses along the busy corridor.
In a social media announcement framed as a business decision, the owners thanked the community for its support and confirmed the restaurant will stay open through the end of July while the team firms up closure plans, according to WDSU. That post has been drawing a steady stream of comments from longtime guests and fellow hospitality workers.
Owners Invite Fans To ‘Dance at the Funeral’
True to New Orleans style, the Gris-Gris team is leaning into a bittersweet sendoff rather than a quiet fade-out. The owners wrote that they hoped they had “left their mark” on the city and explicitly invited supporters to “dance at the funeral,” according to WDSU. The announcement focused on gratitude and celebration, without sharing details about severance or other staffing plans for employees.
A Neighborhood Mainstay Since 2018
Cook opened Gris-Gris on Magazine Street in 2018, with the restaurant’s website listing the address and showcasing a menu of modern Creole and Southern dishes at Gris-Gris. When it debuted, Eater New Orleans highlighted the opening and Cook’s role in the local dining scene. Over time, the dining room and balcony bar helped turn the spot into a go-to for neighborhood regulars and visiting food writers alike.
What The Closure Means For Magazine Street
The loss of Gris-Gris folds into a larger pattern on Magazine Street, where small restaurants and boutiques are working through rising rents and a changing retail mix. Hoodline’s recent reporting on a Tecovas storefront setting up shop on the strip underscored how national brands are reshaping the commercial landscape, which can squeeze independent operators. For diners, Gris-Gris’s exit shrinks the list of locally owned dining rooms holding court along the corridor.
Final Weeks And What Comes Next
The owners say they will share details about final services and any farewell events on their social channels. Current menus and contact information for reservations and general questions are posted on the restaurant’s website at Gris-Gris. Guests with reservations through July are encouraged to keep an eye on those channels in case schedules shift. The team has not yet announced what business will move into the space once Gris-Gris closes.
