Popular Restaurant re-opens – One day after announcing closure
Saint John in the French Quarter is gearing up to welcome diners again, a swift change from its status just a day earlier. On Thursday, chef and owner Eric Cook declared that Saint John would be closing ‘indefinitely’ due to a disagreement over a $40,000 Entergy bill, which led to the restaurant’s power being cut off.
In a recent statement and interview, Cook expressed his growing frustrations with conducting business in New Orleans, citing the billing dispute with Entergy as the tipping point.
However, after a meeting with representatives from City Councilmember Helena Moreno’s office on Friday, Cook received word from Entergy that the restaurant’s power would be reinstated. This decision allows time for both parties to address the billing concerns. It’s worth noting that Moreno is a member of the City Council’s Utilities, Cable, Telecommunications, and Technology Committee, which supervises the council’s role in regulating Entergy New Orleans.
With the power restored, Cook and his team are now focusing on replenishing their supplies, aiming to possibly reopen Saint John by Saturday. Although Cook is relieved about the restaurant’s reopening, he remains concerned about the underlying challenges that led to this situation.
Saint John occupies a space previously known for its long-standing Italian restaurant, Maximo’s. The location remained vacant after another Italian eatery, La Mensa, shut its doors in early 2020. The introduction of Saint John brought a touch of upscale dining to this section of the French Quarter.
