Just 135 miles apart, a 2 hour sprint on the interstate or a scenic ramble on the 90, New Orleans and Lafayette are two of America’s most culturally interesting cities. Economically, though, they’re different.

New Orleans is booming and growing while Lafayette is facing headwinds from a depressed oil economy and the continuing after-effects of floods that are combining to limit opportunity.

Given this situation, it would seem to be an unlikely time to expand a New Orleans business into Lafayette. But that’s what two prominent local companies are doing.

The iconic Rock’n’Bowl and the gourmet hot dog sensation Dat Dog are both opening locations in Lafayette.

Johnny Blancher from Rockn’n’Bowl and Constantine Georges from Dat Dog shed some light on their logic over lunch with Peter Ricchiuti.

Lafayette is no stranger to parties but with these two businesses at either end of Jefferson, both with music venues, look for these New Orleans imports to be a big part of the revival of downtown.

Photos at Commander’s Palace by Alison Moon.