The Puccino’s at 3544 W. Esplanade on the outskirts of Fat City quietly closed last year. Work is well underway inside of the former coffee shop to become the latest concept under the ever-growing portfolio of restaurants owned by Ed McIntyre. McIntyre owns Mr. Ed’s Seafood & Italian, Mr. Ed’s Oyster Bar & Fish House, and Austin’s Seafood & Steakhouse.
This isn’t his first time opening a standalone fried chicken restaurant. He once had a fried chicken concept at 3531 Jefferson Hwy. near Causeway and another in Orleans Parish. For a short period of time, there was also a burger concept called Cheeseburger Eddie’s under the Mr. Ed’s umbrella.
The new chicken eatery should be a welcome sight in Metairie as independent fried chicken restaurants are not common in a landscape dominated by national fast-food chains.