Dogtopia doggie daycare opens soon; CALLS PLUS expansion adding 50 new jobs | Business Buzz
Each week, we’ll offer insights into new businesses, developments and closings in the area. And we’ll answer your questions about what’s happening in a vacant store or empty lot. Email us at wpotter@theadvertiser.com.
Cafe 20.3, a restaurant near the airport offering all-day breakfast and a selection of local beers, will be under new ownership beginning Feb. 1.
In a Facebook post last week, the restaurant's owner said that five years ago he decided to open up the cafe in a location that had previously not been successful. His goal was to create a "destination place on the river" for the Lafayette community, but "the powers that be did not see this as a need."
In the post, the owner asked that customers continue to come by the location and support the next business in the spot.
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"I cannot be more thankful for those who have had a meal, grabbed a beverage, or just visited," the post said. "Those who have made the Cafe their little secret place, thank you the most. It has been a great venture, and hopefully our paths will cross again."
CALLS PLUS expanding Lafayette call center
CALLS PLUS, a call center company specializing in safety, health care and counseling hotlines, is expanding its multilingual call center in Lafayette, Louisiana Economic Development announced last week.
The company, which is woman- and minority-owned, is expanding to add 50 new direct jobs in addition to the 37 existing jobs. LED estimates the project will add 27 indirect jobs in Acadiana.
The company was founded in New Orleans in 1987 as New Orleans Teleport. Hiring for the new positions has already begun, and all positions are expected to be filled by mid-2022. Information about the positions are available at Opportunities.LEDFastStart.com/CALLSPLUS.
“CALLS PLUS chose to invest in Lafayette specifically because of the robust infrastructure provided by Lafayette Utilities System, which helped us transition from fiber landlines to Voice over Internet Protocol,” said CALLS PLUS President Barbara Lamont.
“Louisiana has a super educated and motivated workforce. Over the next few years, our team members will gain critical knowledge and experience in skills such as Mental Health First Aid and newer technology to engage via phone, text, and video chat.”
Bayou Carlin Oyster Co. partnering with Bayou Teche on new beer
Bayou Carlin Oyster Co., a local company that created oyster meal kits, partnered with Bayou Teche Brewing to celebrate the launch of the new Teche Oyster Cult Saison.
The two brands celebrated the launch of the beer on Saturday at Bayou Teche Brewing. The saison has notes of citrus, smoke and a slight brininess to pair with Gulf Coast oysters.
ALDI gets permit for northside location
Grocery giant ALDI, which has been making aggressive moves to enter the Acadiana market, received a permit last week for construction on its second Lafayette location.
The location on Lafayette's northside at 3210 Louisiana Avenue is expected to open in the spring or summer. The first location on Ambassador Caffery Parkway is slated to open Feb. 10.
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A third location is planned in New Iberia.
The construction for the northside ALDI is valued around $4.2 million.
New dog daycare opening Monday
Dogtopia, a new daycare moving into the former Pier 1 at 5530 Johnston Street, is opening Monday. To celebrate the opening, Dogtopia is offering a limited-time deal of three months of unlimited daycare for $69 per week.
The location is owned by Bethaney Laukhuff, an account executive for KLFY.
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“The Lafayette community consists of a great melting pot of people who enjoy music, art, food, family, fun and their pets,” Laukhuff said in a release. “With this new Dogtopia center opening, I wanted to fulfill a purpose in my community and offer a much needed service at the highest industry standards possible.”
Lafayette bookstores partnering
Beausoleil Books, a Downtown Lafayette bookstore that opened in 2020, is partnering with longstanding used bookstore Alexander Books to offer a curated selection of used books in Beausoleil Books' store.
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Alexander Books, located at 2116 Johnston Street, has been open since 1989. Beausoleil Books is located at 302 Jefferson Street.
Contact reporter William Taylor Potter with tips or questions at wpotter@theadvertiser.com or on Twitter at @wmtaylorpotter.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Lafayette call center adding jobs; Cafe 20.3 will have new owners
