NEW ORLEANS (press release) – Effective today, New Orleans-based hospitality group LeBLANC + SMITH will temporarily close its five restaurants and bars, including Meauxbar, Sylvain, Barrel Proof, Cavan, and Longway Tavern. See below for a statement from the LeBLANC + SMITH Founder and CEO, Robért LeBlanc:
Dear friends and family,
I know things are really difficult right now, and there is a lot of fear and uncertainty with the COVID-19. We listened to New Orleans city officials yesterday discuss how serious the situation is, and they are encouraging social distancing and implementing new restrictions on restaurants and bars. As of today, Monday, March 16, all LeBLANC+SMITH restaurants and bars will temporarily close. This includes Meauxbar, Sylvain, Barrel Proof, Cavan and Longway Tavern.
We have always been a “team first” hospitality group. Our team is the heartbeat of our company, and I can’t imagine where we’d be without our people. But it’s my responsibility to keep team members and guests safe and healthy.
I’m truly heartbroken to share this news, but in this extraordinary time, we must prioritize the health and safety of our team, our guests and our community by being socially responsible and adhering to all guidelines and recommendations to promote social distancing to flatten the curve. We are determined to get back to what we love as soon as it is safe for all to do so. We are making very hard decisions across the company to make sure we get through this crisis, and when we do, we have every intention of re-employing all affected individuals. This is uncharted territory for us all.
Some members of the LeBLANC+SMITH leadership team will continue to work on a voluntary basis to support our business and community through this truly trying time. Over the last day, we have compiled an extensive list of resources available to our team members to help them through this financial hardship, and will be giving away all remaining food to staff. Gift cards are available for sale on our websites for future use, and 75% of those sales will go to our affected employees.
We look forward to reopening better and stronger than ever and continuing our mission of providing excellent food, drinks and 21st Century Hospitality.
We will come back from this. New Orleans always does.
Take care,
Robért LeBlanc, Founder & Creative Director, LeBLANC + SMITH
WHEN: Beginning Monday, March 16, 2020 WHERE: Meauxbar (Temporarily closed)
942 N Rampart St., New Orleans, LA 70116
Sylvain (Temporarily closed)
615 Chartres St., New Orleans, LA 70130
Barrel Proof (Temporarily closed)
1201 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA 70130
Cavan (Temporarily closed)
3607 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA 70115
Longway Tavern (Temporarily closed)
719 Toulouse St., New Orleans, LA 70130
