Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux to close Pensacola location after just over a year in business

Pensacola’s Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux located at 1240 Airport Blvd. is slated to permanently close following service on Wednesday, according to its employees. The restaurant first opened its doors to Pensacola last August, replacing a former TGI Fridays.

The news came as a surprise to the multiple employees, and customers, who confirmed that the restaurant would be closing its doors. Calls to the restaurant on Wednesday confirmed it would be its last day.

When DBMC Restaurants, the company that owns several Walk-On's franchises including the Pensacola location, was asked by the News Journal Tuesday for confirmation on the closure, the group responded with "no comment."

In 2017, DBMC executed a multi-state development agreement with Baton Rouge based Walk-On’s restaurants and has territory rights within parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee and Oklahoma. Pensacola Walk-On's General Manager Logan Rodgers would not confirm or deny the closure when reached Tuesday evening.

Walk-On’s generated plenty of momentum from the Pensacola location for its grand opening day, as customers lined up as early as 7:30 a.m. to ensure they were one of the first people in line to win Walk-On’s for a year, with a performance by the Booker T. Washington High School band playing triumphantly in the background. They franchise began service with a staff of nearly 200 team members.

The brand was a familiar one to Pensacola, particularly New Orleans Saints fans, since one of the company owners is NFL All-Pro quarterback Drew Brees. The Pensacola restaurant was the Panhandle’s first location.

Brandon Landry, founder and CEO for Walk On's, told the guests on opening day they would see commitment to servicing the locals.

"Thank you for being a part of this," Landry said as he spoke before staff and spectators on opening day. "We're not the next chain coming to town. ... We're going to be part of the Pensacola community."

It fused the sports bar atmosphere with down-home Louisiana cooking, making dishes like the Voodoo Shrimp & Grits and Cajundillas, stand out as crowd favorites.

The next closest locations to Pensacola are at 3673 Airport Blvd. in Mobile, Alabama and 11181 Mandal Parkway in D’Iberville, Mississippi.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux to close Pensacola location this week