changing face of downtown as businesses moved to the suburbs, the seemingly frequent car crashes on their doorstep, and most recently, both the Covid pandemic that shut all restaurants down, changed their business models and then wrung them inside out and the months-long work on the Texas Street bridge. “We’re pretty good at dealing with challenges,” says Glenn.
Over the years, the Blind Tiger has found its niche. They have concentrated on Cajun and Louisiana specialties and basics, like big burgers, done right and fast. Their waitstaff is consistent, fast and the perfect combination of helpful and friendly, without being overly so.
They have dialed in the look of their iconic plastic “go” cups, which are given sat talking to Rick and Glenn one recent afternoon after the lunch rush, Jeff Douzat walked up to thank them. It was here, Jeff said, that he and wife Amy had their first date. Jeff and Amy had driven to Shreveport from Lake Charles to celebrate their fifth anniversary in the place it had all started, and yes, Jeff was celebrating with a Cajun Sampler.
Rick and Glenn now own the Blind Tiger and are there almost every day. They know that being in the store, and being handson, means the quality will be consistent.
It is not unusual to see Glenn greeting, seating and helping waitstaff when things get busy. It is his “baby,” and babies can’t be ignored.
When they opened in May of 1992, neither Rick nor Glenn could imagine
A celebration 25 years ago.
for free as soft advertising, approximately 900,000 so far. The cups not only occupy office desks throughout downtown; they have been spotted as far away as Illinois. Glenn remembers seeing one of their colorful Blind Tiger shirts in Germany.
The Blind Tiger is now one of those places that people remember. While I
Blind Tiger’s karaoke was legendary.
30 years hence, but here they are. Still popular. Still serving up great meals and drinks, still selling T-shirts and making memories. “I still love my job,” says Glenn, with a smile. “If you love your job, you never have to work a day in your life.”
Bravo, Blind Tiger. Here’s to 30 years more.
Jeff and Amy Douzat had their first date at the Blind Tiger and came back celebrating their fifth anniversary.
Where did the name Blind Tiger come from? The Blind Tiger menu tells the story. During Prohibition, when liquor was illegal, speakeasies would “advertise” by putting a stuffed animal, often a tiger, in a window. Even after Prohibition, if you were caught selling booze without a license, your business was called a “Blind Tiger.” Rick and Glenn loved the name and the logo of the Blind Tiger playing piano drawn up for them by a friend.
Will they ever bring back some of their menu favorites? Rick and Glenn are often asked if they will ever bring back steak, po-boys or onion rings. “No,” they say. They have dialed in their menu now, and it works, but the onion rings are an interesting story. Their homemade, handbattered rings were labor intensive but hugely popular. However, they couldn’t keep them consistent. The rings need a certain fryer temperature, easy in the early part of lunch, impossible as more things were fried, so the rings fried early in the day would be crispy and delicious, the ones fried later, soggy and disappointing. Not wanting to disappoint customers, they removed the rings from the menu.
Do they want bollards in front of their restaurant? Yes! Cars tend to speed going north and south and east and west, and vehicles have ended up in the building. Glenn is working with the DDA, the city of Shreveport and the DOTD to install some protection for pedestrians and others on the northeast corner of Spring and Texas streets.
Blind Tiger, fancied up in 30-year finery!
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BLIND TIGER
The numbers tell the ‘tail.’ 4,000,000+ Shrimp Served 2,000,000+ Catfish Filets 135,000+ Gallons of Gumbo 70,000+ Gallons of Red Beans 1,000,000+ Pieces of Cornbread 400,000+ 16 oz. Specialty
Mason Jar Drinks 45,000+ Bread Puddings 40,000+ T-shirts
Liz Swaine is the executive director of the Downtown Development Authority. She can be reached at [email protected]
June 7, 2017, issue of The Forum News Go to: bit.ly/3xG2uJZ
