Primus Loved It, But the Staff Left: The Dramatic End of the Revived Cotton Boll

UPDATE:

The Cotton Boll has officially updated their Facebook page to say they are "Permanently Closed". You can read some of the drama that unfolded in the public eye below:

One of Shreveport's most beloved and oldest local restaurants, The Cotton Boll, has shut its doors, and this time it could be for good. The restaurant had been shut down and reopened once before, and recently got some major attention, but none of it was enough to keep things going. If the now former staff are to be believed, not much could've been done to stop their walkout.

Staff Walkout Forces Closure

The closure of The Cotton Boll wasn't something the owners were planning for months in advance. In fact, the owners had very little say in keeping the business open after the entire staff, management included, walked out the door. One member of the staff exodus explained in a Facebook post that the entire staff was fed up with "a severe level of neglect from [the owner]."

The owner of the restaurant has not publicly commented on the situation, but without a staff, the eatery is closed for the foreseeable future. Included in the walkout was the Head Chef Jill Justus, who is credited as being near the core of the restaurant's recent success. If the owner ever decides to hire new staff for a grand reopening, a new chef would more or less mean a whole new Cotton Boll.

From Revival to Closure: The End of an Era

The Cotton Boll, if it ever comes back, will never be the same. Those same Facebook posts from former staff laud Chef Justus for her work in helping revive the grill just months before it would've been closed for good. Back in the Spring of 2024, the Cotton Boll was close to shutting down for good when a new owner swept in to take over, along with a new chef in the kitchen.

Just a little over a year from when the new ownership took charge, internationally famous rock band Primus performed with their new drummer and Shreveport local John "Hoffer" Hoffman. The Cotton Boll got some attention from the band when they gave a warmhearted shoutout to the almost 100-year-old restaurant, but just days later, the business was closed.

Where From Here

The Cotton Boll was built sometime in the 1930s, making it one of the oldest restaurants in Shreveport. It's incredibly saddening to see a local staple say goodbye, possibly for good. Those who walked out on The Cotton Boll have made clear they have bonded as a family, and are intending on finding a new restaurant where the staff can shine and share some Shreveport spirit.