Crazy Cajuns Boiling Pot owners selling restaurant after 25 years: ‘This is a young person’s game’

Crazy Cajuns Boiling Pot owners selling restaurant after 25 years: ‘This is a young person’s game’

The owners of Crazy Cajuns Boiling Pot will retire and look to sell the restaurant after part of three decades in the Inverness shopping center in Birmingham.

“After some long talks, soul-searching, and consideration..Robert and I have decided to retire from the restaurant business,” co-owner Lulu Regard posted on Facebook.

“Robert has said for a couple of years now that this is a young person’s game and we have both moved on to new ventures. However, the thought of closing the ‘Cajun’ is…well, it’s sad.”

Regard also wrote that “the Cajun is for sale.” The restaurant that serves authentic Cajun food is located at 125 Inverness Plaza in Birmingham.

“We are putting it out there to see if any of y’all would like to carry on the 25 year, local tradition that is Crazy Cajun’s,” she wrote. “Maybe not a tradition, more like our lil dive, our local hangout.”

“We are not closing,” Robert Regard told AL.com. “We would like to step back and pass the torch to give someone an opportunity to carry on the tradition.

“We’re not wanting to disrupt any of the business flow. The best case scenario is I would help with the transition. We just want someone to take over the day-to-day operations. We can step back.

Regard said they are still willing to help with catering jobs, some of which they’ve had standing for 20 years.

He said they would love to have the new owners in place by next crawfish season, around January or February, with hopes to continue on business as usual. He said they do not intend to be partners with new owners, more so consultants. They own others businesses, his in home inspection and hers in a local boutique.

“We would like to se somebody take over with fresh set of legs and fresh ideas,” Robert Regard said. “I know there are some food trends out there — keto-friendly, low carb — I would like to see some different menu items introduced, from someone younger than me, and to see it marketed the way it should be, have someone take the opportunity to expand and carry on the tradition.

The Facebook post said, “It’s time for us to step down. We are asking if any of you know someone who would like to take over, please let us know. We are willing to assist anyone who would be interested in learning the ropes at the boiling pot. We would much rather see it move forward with fresh ideas and great enthusiasm than to just shut the doors.”

She also listed their phone number for “serious inquiries only.”

Regard closed by thanking customers and friends before signing off, “Robert and Lulu.”

Crazy Cajuns Boiling Pot opened in June 1997. The Regards hail from Baton Rouge, La., and the menu items remain rooted in his grandmother’s original recipes.

“I never wanted to get into the restaurant business,” he said/ “It sort of happened when I lost a hand of cards. We kind of opened the restaurant without having a full knowledge of the restaurant business. And here we are almost 26 years later still carrying on the same tradition. I just think that it would be a good opportunity to have a fresh set of eyes and legs that run the restaurant.

“I have mixed feelings on stepping down from the restaurant, but with us both having other careers, I think it would better serve the restaurant to have somebody take over. “

He said he was surprised to see the outpouring of support from customers via Facebook, phone calls and text messages. “We definitely do not want to close the doors,” he said. “We want to carry on the tradition.

“And we’ve got the best customers in the world, many of which we consider family.”