Louisiana Chef Louie Finnan has leased the former Jack’s restaurant spot in the Depot District and plans to open Louie and the Redhead Lady next month.

Finnan and wife Ginger recently moved to Bay St. Louis. He looked at a location in Waveland before settling on Blaize Avenue for his latest restaurant venture. Most recently he operated restaurants in Covington, Mandeville and Hammond before turning them over to his children.

Finnan said retirement didn’t suit him so he wanted to get back into the restaurant business in a new location. “I realized I really am not the type of person who can retire,” said Finnan, who has been in the business for 44 years. “I’ve got to be doing something.”

Workers are cleaning out the space and painting to get ready for the opening.

“We are going to be less expensive than anybody else and the food’s going to be good,” Finnan promised. The restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner Monday through Friday and dinner on Saturday.

Finnan will offer nightly specials such as a $10 filet and $10 all-you-can-eat fried shrimp. Other items will include his Eggplant Algiers which he prepared for Guy Fieri on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. The dish consists of three fried eggplant medallions layered with a crab cake, boiled shrimp, crab meat and topped with a light Sherry cream sauce.

There will be a soft opening in about three weeks and the opening is planned for Sept. 18, according to Finnan. The location is 136 Blaize Ave.