Downtown News and Media
Downtown Lafayette is full of stories. We’re a community in a constant state of change, driven by people who care deeply about the success of Lafayette.
Keep up with what’s happening Downtown.
Our blog and newsletters will keep you up-to-date on developing news and coming events in Downtown Lafayette. Stay in touch, stay informed, and watch Downtown grow as a thriving community.
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News and Media Feed
The History of Downtown Alive!
Little did Acadiana know that on Friday, April 8th, 1983, history would be made in Downtown Lafayette. It all started when a group of people got together to try and figure out how to bring life into Downtown Lafayette. Downtown Development Director Cathy Webre and her...
The Downtowner: April 2020
Physically separate, but together as a community. The individuals and businesses of Downtown have stepped forward to face the COVID-19 crisis. Here’s our April edition of The Downtowner, Downtown Lafayette’s monthly newsletter.
DLU Member Spotlight: Amy Jones of Burning Stick Creative
Burning Stick Creative is a full-service advertising agency led by Amy Jones. As a DLU member, Amy is as passionate about branding as she is about Downtown.
Six ways to support Downtown restaurants
About 40 restaurants operate in the Downtown district, and the majority of them have temporarily closed in the past three weeks. These businesses are a huge part of the culture and economy of our district, owned and operated by local residents with family ties here in Acadiana. They are small businesses, and many of them cannot continue to operate without a steady flow of revenue.
Rachel Holland named Director of Downtown Development and Planning
Rachel Holland named Director of Downtown Development and Planning Rachel Holland joined Lafayette’s Downtown Development Authority as Director of Downtown Development and Planning on March 9. Holland, who has experience in both the public and private sectors, will...
DLU Member Spotlight: Nathanael Johnson of Rêve Coffee Roasters
Nathanael Johnson explains how Rêve Coffee Roasters came to Lafayette, why he feels it is important to be in a district like Downtown, and the passion he has for creating a quality environment and experience for his customers.
2019 Year-in-review: Creating momentum for a new decade of growth in Downtown
2019 was a transformative year for Downtown Lafayette, one that will mark the beginning of a new decade of momentum for the heart of Acadiana. Our organization has undergone exciting changes, beginning with the appointment of Anita Begnaud as the CEO of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and Downtown Lafayette Unlimited (DLU) in October of 2018. Anita hit the ground running by reinvigorating DLU’s membership and programming efforts, hiring Maureen Dugas Foster as the first ever Director of DLU, and acting as the spokesperson for a list of catalytic projects in Downtown—from the renovation of the Old Federal Courthouse and the construction of Vermilion Lofts and Buchanan Heights, to efforts to address Downtown’s pressing infrastructure issues.
Photos: Halo Building Ribbon Cutting Celebration
See photos of the celebration of the new Facade Improvement and mural at Downtown’s Halo Building. The improved Halo Building facade features artwork by muralist, Brett Chigoy, made possible by a grant from the Downtown Development Authority, through DDA’s Facade Improvement Program.
Photos: The first Merry & Bright Christmas in Downtown
Photos from the first ever Merry & Bright Christmas in DowntownChristmas in Downtown Lafayette was extra special in 2019. The efforts of Downtown Lafayette Unlimited and almost 100 different businesses, organizations, artists, and volunteers combined...
What does it mean to “shop small” in Lafayette?
Most people are familiar with the post-Thanksgiving shopping frenzy of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Like it or not, these holiday shopping dates are here to stay, but many who participate do not realize the impact that their spending has—or doesn’t have—on our local economy. Enter Small Business Saturday.
Downtown Lafayette to become the “Merry & Bright” destination for the Christmas season
Downtown Lafayette will become the perfect destination for lovers of Christmas this December. In an effort to spread seasonal joy throughout the Acadiana region, DLU has committed to creating a month-long series of family-friendly holiday events in Downtown Lafayette.
