Restaurant Construction & Renovation in New Orleans

At the corner of Magazine Street and Jefferson Avenue, a beautifully restored Victorian landmark has been reimagined as the new Uptown home of Congregation Coffee. Designed by Colectivo and brought to life by Mayer Building Company, this project transforms the former CC’s Coffee House into a café that feels as timeless as its historic façade while fully aligned with the pace and style of modern New Orleans. The renovation preserves the building’s architectural character while delivering a seamless and functional layout for both baristas and guests. Every detail—from custom millwork and rich finishes to strategic lighting and a floor plan designed for quick morning stops as well as lingering afternoons—reinforces Congregation’s craft-driven identity. The result is an inviting environment that draws you in from the street, envelops you in warmth, and rewards you with the city’s finest coffee and locally sourced pastries. This Uptown flagship not only serves coffee but also enhances the neighborhood’s sense of place, connects history with contemporary culture, and stands as a bold example of how design and construction can shape community gathering.

Mayer Building Company completed the interior buildout and exterior renovation of the new Cinnaholic location at 4921 Freret Street, bringing the national gourmet cinnamon roll franchise to one of New Orleans’ most vibrant commercial corridors. This adaptive reuse project transformed a classic New Orleans house-form structure into a fully operational, code-compliant restaurant space. Key elements of the project included the buildout of a commercial kitchen with FRP wall finishes, installation of a four-compartment sink, ingredient bin storage, commercial ovens, soft-serve dispensers, and a refined service counter with solid surface finishes. On the exterior, we restored the porch and stair elements and added custom signage, creating a bright and welcoming façade that aligns with the brand’s identity. This project exemplifies our expertise in delivering branded and compliance-driven restaurant buildouts in dense urban neighborhoods.

Just before Carnival 2025, Mayer Building Company delivered Avegno, the expansion of Gautreau’s. The Avegno project revitalized a cherished New Orleans dining space. The bar area features a Chicago-style brass rail, a copper bar top, and mounted glass shelving for efficient service. The custom wallpaper in the restrooms adds an elegant yet bold aesthetic. The dining area boasts herringbone wood flooring, wood beams, and painted tectum ceilings, creating a classic yet contemporary ambiance. The clean lines, fresh paint, and inviting green awning of the exterior enhance curb appeal while respecting the building’s historic character. An especially notable feature is the homage to John Singer Sargent’s portraits of Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau, famously known as Madame X and Madame Gautreau Drinking a Toast. Local artist Anne Marie Auricchio’s mural tribute to this American Renaissance classic is striking. The space integrates this homage through its elegant interior design, reflecting the timeless sophistication and poise captured in Sargent’s paintings. A major challenge was preserving the historic essence while integrating modern functionality. We navigated supply chain delays for fixtures and fittings through strategic solutions and close coordination with subcontractors.

In 2021, Mayer Building Company completed the interior transformation of 2042 Prytania Street for The Rabbit’s Foot, a specialty grocer and café located in the heart of the Lower Garden District. This project involved a complete renovation of the first floor of a historic, three-story masonry structure. Collaborating with Studio West, the scope of work included over 4,400 square feet of renovations designed to create a welcoming dining area, curated retail and grocery sections, a production kitchen, and back-of-house facilities. Great care was taken to preserve existing architectural elements while introducing functional updates for retail and food service operations. This included new mechanical systems and ADA-compliant upgrades throughout the space. All renovations were carried out without altering the building's historic exterior, in compliance with HDLC requirements. The result is a seamless blend of modern functionality and timeless character, reflecting both the spirit of the tenant and the charm of the surrounding neighborhood.

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In late 2024, Mayer Building Company completed the Twisted Taco at the Mayer Residence on the Tulane University campus. The project featured a massive hood, oversized walk-in coolers, and a food service prep line, all of which left little room for other essential components. Despite these challenges, we succeeded, thanks to the support of Tulane University and StudioWest. This new casual cantina is sure to become a favorite among students, as it opened just in time for their return from winter break.

In mid-2023, an iconic client of Mayer Building Company, French Truck Coffee, commissioned us to renovate an unused corner of Canal Street into the latest (and sharpest, if you ask me) French Truck Coffee location. This homegrown New Orleans brand operating in this historic building serves as an excellent example of the entrepreneurial spirit in New Orleans. As always, we appreciate French Truck Coffee as a client and are confident that they will thrive in their new location.

In May 2019, Mayer Building Company completed our second build-out for City Greens. The project primarily involved re-decorating and branding the restaurant, as well as overhauling the underground plumbing and electrical systems. We salvaged many components from the former restaurant, which was a sustainable choice, while successfully developing the brand and unique atmosphere for this next installment of the rapidly growing salad and sandwich hotspot.

Recently, Mayer Building Company completed a new commissary kitchen for French Truck Coffee. The kitchen, created from a light industrial space, is equipped with vinyl wipe-down ceiling tiles, full FRP paneling, and a ground and sealed concrete floor. We installed proofers, walk-in coolers, hoods, ovens, and all new top-quality commercial kitchen equipment to keep FTC’s new kitchen fresh and clean.

St. Pizza was completed in an impressive against-all-odds situation. The project faced many challenges, but all were overcome with the support of ownership, MBC staff, and subcontractors. The result is the hottest slice counter in town, along with a bespoke red-sauce tavern in the back. This project combines tradition with contemporary, chef-oriented experiences, all crafted with a true sense of place-making. The project involved a complex layout of commercial kitchen, bar, and pizza equipment, transforming the old warehouse with new finishes and a concrete slab, along with an underground systems package.

Alongside St. Pizza is Patron Saint, an elegantly designed wine room and tasting space. Our work on Patron Saint included a complete build-out with metal studs and drywall, as well as new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, topped off with polished concrete flooring. While we’d love to take credit for the “lime-wash” style paintwork, that distinction belongs to the owner. For more details, check out this recent piece by Ian McNulty on Nola.com.

Mayer Building Company constructed the only Shipley's DoNuts in town. The fast-paced environment of this donut shop on Metairie Road mirrors the swift schedule in which the project was delivered. The build adhered to the franchise's strict branding guidelines and included a front-of-house fit-out featuring Shipley finishes such as tiles, light fixtures, and millwork. The back-of-house commercial kitchen boasts spacious preparation and cooking areas, a hood for ventilation, and excellent air conditioning capacity. We believe this addition to the Metairie Road corridor is a delicious enhancement.

In 2017, Mayer Building Company completed a full renovation and rebuild of La 23 BBQ, a staple in Belle Chasse. Positive reviews continue to pour in online, reflecting the restaurant's ongoing success. We are proud to have worked on this project for such a great customer. The renovation included a comprehensive overhaul of the commercial kitchen, a new large steel patio, and improvements to the parking lot and deck.

In July 2022, Mayer Building Co. delivered its first izakaya (the only one in New Orleans) for Sukeban. MBC collaborated with Chef and Owner Jacqueline Blanchard, along with Architect StudioWTA, to transform this former bookstore into Oak Street’s cutting-edge sake and sushi destination. The atmosphere of the space is streamlined, straightforward, and simple, yet it evokes a sense of sophistication that appeals to discerning diners and authenticity-seeking travelers alike. I know I can’t wait to experience it!

In late 2014, MBC opened Ale, a beer-centric saloon located on Oak Street, adjacent to the Oak Wine Bar. We created a homey tavern featuring reclaimed wood elements and built a courtyard using recycled bricks to connect the two spaces and their events. The leathered stone top, custom steel cladding, and wall-mounted planters make Oak a great place to enjoy a cold drink on a hot New Orleans day.

In 2019, French Truck Coffee partnered with us to create a fantastic new coffee shop on the Laffite Greenway in Mid City. Nestled among willows and pine trees, this build-out included all aspects of mechanical, electrical, fire alarm, and plumbing infrastructure. The coffee shop boasts a more robust kitchen setup compared to other French Truck locations and features iconic branding throughout. Roll-up glass doors and a welcoming deck make this French Truck Coffee one of our favorites.

Mayer Building Company completed the City Greens build-out in 2017. The work for the new restaurant was designed by Metro Studio and delivered on time and within budget. Unique elements like contemporary planters in the outdoor space and reclaimed wood accents at the soffits created an inviting atmosphere for lunch and highlighted the fresh ingredients that are central to the restaurant's mission and vision.